The Developmental Architecture of Wing Pattern Variation in Heliconius Erato

Heliconius Erato 翼型变异的发育结构

• 批准号: 0344705
• 负责人: William McMillan
• 金额: $ 71.34万
• 依托单位: University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2004
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2004-06-01 至 2007-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0344705&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Developmental; Architecture; Wing; Pattern; Variation

Summary of research:This project will develop a gene chip for the Neotropical butterfly Heliconius erato and use it to study the temporal and spatial patterning of gene expression during wing pattern development. Heliconius erato has undergone an extraordinary adaptive radiation in its vividly colored wing patterns and is an important ecological and evolutionary model for studying selection, adaptation and morphological differentiation. This research will determine how differences in gene expression are correlated with differences in pigmentation both within and between geographic races of H. erato, and how gene expression patterns for different elements of the color pattern change during development. This work is expected to uncover new genes involved in pattern formation and lays the groundwork for understanding how changes in genetic regulatory interactions cause morphological diversification and about how these interactions are modified during an evolutionary radiation. On a more general level, wing pattern formation and evolution in Heliconius is an excellent model system for conceptualizing the developmental mechanisms underlying the formation and diversification of more complex morphological traits. In addition, because the genetic networks underlying wing pattern formation in butterflies may be simple, this system could provide a powerful model for reverse engineering of genetic regulatory networks from gene expression data. This project is a synergistic collaboration between researchers at the University of Puerto Rico and Duke University and will promote a broader participation of underrepresented groups in science, particularly at the undergraduate level. Furthermore, given their visually stunning patterns and remarkable evolutionary radiation, Heliconius butterflies are excellent models to promote general conservation and educational efforts.

研究摘要：该项目将开发用于新热带蝴蝶Heliconius Erato的基因芯片，并使用它来研究机翼模式发展过程中基因表达的时间和空间图案。 Heliconius Erato在其生动颜色的机翼模式中经历了非凡的自适应辐射，并且是研究选择，适应性和形态学分化的重要生态和进化模型。 这项研究将确定基因表达的差异如何与H. erato的地理种族内部和地理种族之间的色素沉着差异以及在发育过程中颜色模式变化的不同元素的基因表达模式如何相关。 预计这项工作将发现与模式形成有关的新基因，并为理解遗传调节相互作用的变化如何导致形态多样化以及如何在进化辐射过程中修改这些相互作用的基础。 在更一般的层面上，Heliconius中的机翼模式形成和演变是一个出色的模型系统，用于概念化更复杂形态特征的形成和多样化的发展机制。 此外，由于蝴蝶中的机翼模式形成的遗传网络可能很简单，因此该系统可以从基因表达数据中为遗传调节网络进行反向工程提供强大的模型。 该项目是波多黎各大学和杜克大学研究人员之间的协同合作，将促进代表性不足的科学群体的广泛参与，特别是在本科生。 此外，鉴于它们在视觉上令人惊叹的模式和显着的进化辐射，Heliconius Butterflies是促进一般保护和教育努力的绝佳模型。