NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship in Biology FY 2012

2012 财年 NSF 生物学博士后奖学金

• 批准号: 1202873
• 负责人: Hannah Wood
• 金额: $ 12.3万
• 依托单位: Wood Hannah M
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Fellowship Award
• 财政年份: 2013
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2013-01-01 至 2014-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1202873&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: NSF; Postdoctoral; Fellowship; Biology; FY

Function and rates of diversification in complex miniature structures: the trap-jaw mechanisms in spiders The goal of this research is to use principles of engineering to discover basic mechanical patterns in the function of a complex biological structure, and then to use these findings to examine evolutionary diversification. Studies that determine function are essential for understanding how species diversify. However, such studies are difficult on the millimeter-sized organisms that tend to make up the majority of earth?s diversity, as size limitations make dissections and in vivo manipulations virtually impossible. However, synchrotron-based micro-tomography scanning presents a means for gathering detailed information about internal minute biological structures in even the smallest organisms. This technique is crucial in the case of the millimeter-sized trap-jaw spider family. Within this family extremely rapid, inertia-based, jaw closing mechanisms have evolved 3-4 times independently. Synchrotron scans will allow for visualizing internal musculature and structures implicated in jaw function, but also, this technique will allow for constructing 3D computer models to be used as inputs for kinematic simulations. Results from these simulations, coupled with a pre-existing phylogeny, will allow for testing (1) the hypothesis that changes in form directly relate to changes in function; and (2) the hypothesis that patterns of species diversification are proportional to rates of morphological and functional change.Training includes learning techniques for reconstructing 3D computer models from synchrotron-based tomography scans, performing kinematic simulations, and running statistical analyses that determine shifts among lineages in rates of evolutionary diversification and functional and morphological change. Broader impacts during the course of the postdoctoral fellowship include training and mentoring undergraduates, giving guest lectures in undergraduate courses, and making results, such as 3D digital reconstructions, available online. Other opportunities for community outreach include presenting research at public venues and creating online lesson plans that facilitate the teaching of evolution.

复杂微型结构中多元化的功能和多样化速率：蜘蛛中的陷阱结构机制本研究的目的是使用工程学原理在复杂的生物结构的功能中发现基本的机械模式，然后使用这些发现来检查进化多样化。确定功能的研究对于了解物种如何多样化至关重要。但是，这种研究很难在毫米大小的生物体上往往构成地球的大部分多样性，因为尺寸的限制几乎是不可能的，因此大小的限制使解剖和体内操纵几乎不可能。然而，基于同步加速器的微型学术扫描提供了一种手段，用于收集有关甚至最小生物中内部分钟生物结构的详细信息。对于毫米大小的陷阱蜘蛛家族，该技术至关重要。在这个家族中，基于惯性的下颌闭合机制非常迅速地独立发展了3-4次。同步加速器扫描将允许可视化内部肌肉和与下颌功能有关的结构，但此技术也将允许构建3D计算机模型作为运动模拟的输入。这些模拟的结果与先前存在的系统发育相结合，将允许测试（1）形式变化直接与功能变化有关的假设； （2）假说，物种多样化的模式与形态和功能变化的速率成正比。培训包括用于从基于同步加速器的层析成像扫描，进行运动学模拟的研究技术，用于重建3D计算机模型，并运行统计分析，以确定谱系分析的统计分析在进化多样化以及功能和形态变化的速度上。在博士后奖学金过程中，更广泛的影响包括培训和指导本科生，在本科课程中为嘉宾讲座以及在线提供诸如3D数字重建之类的结果。社区推广的其他机会包括在公共场所介绍研究并制定在线课程计划，以促进进化的教学。