DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Examining Evidence for Phenotypic and Genetic Convergence in the Guppy (Poecilia reticulata)

论文研究：检查孔雀鱼（Poecilia reticulata）表型和遗传趋同的证据

• 批准号: 1700899
• 负责人: David Reznick
• 金额: $ 1.73万
• 依托单位: University of California-Riverside
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2017
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2017-07-01 至 2018-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1700899&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: DISSERTATION; RESEARCH; Examining; Evidence; Phenotypic

Convergent evolution refers to the origin of similar traits in different species, such as flight in birds, bats, and insects. It is often thought that the genes underlying convergent evolution within species are similar, but this is still an open question. This proposal uses a nucleic acid sequencing method to which genes are turned on or off at any time. This information is then compared with tail color patterns of guppies. Tail coloration is highly variable trait and plays a key role in mating displays. The project will identify color genes in different fish at different locations to understand if the same genetic signatures result in similar patterns. The study will advance scientific knowledge by answering questions concerning the predictability of evolution, and will provide research opportunities for undergraduates at one of the most ethnically diverse universities in the nation. This proposal focuses on convergent evolution. Specifically, the researchers address two questions: 1) How similar are visible color patterns among individuals from genetically diverged populations? and 2) Will genes differentiating extreme color patterns within a population be convergent among individuals from genetically diverged sites, and if so, which ones? For the first question, the researchers will analyze photographs of male guppies from five sites and sort the patterns into color categories. The researchers hypothesize that there will be convergence in the color patterns of males from genetically diverged populations. The second question will be answered using next generation DNA sequencing. For each of the five sites, tissues from males with colored and uncolored tails will be sequenced. The differentially expressed genes between tail color types at one site will be compared to the differentially expressed genes between tail color types at the other sites to test for convergence. The researchers will be able to determine if phenotypic convergence is correlated with expression of the same genes, different genes within the same pathway, or different pathways.

收敛的演变是指在不同物种中类似性状的起源，例如鸟类，蝙蝠和昆虫的飞行。人们经常认为物种内部融合进化的基因相似，但这仍然是一个悬而未决的问题。该建议使用核酸测序方法，任何时候都会打开或关闭基因。然后将这些信息与孔雀鱼的尾巴颜色模式进行比较。尾部着色是高度可变的性状，在交配显示中起关键作用。该项目将在不同位置识别不同鱼类的颜色基因，以了解相同的遗传特征是否导致相似的模式。该研究将通过回答有关进化的可预测性的问题来推动科学知识，并将为全国最多样化的大学之一的本科生提供研究机会。该提案着重于收敛进化。具体来说，研究人员解决了两个问题：1）来自基因分歧人群的个体之间的可见颜色模式与众不同？ 2）在人群中，分化人群中极端颜色模式的基因是否会在基因分歧位置的个体中收敛，如果是，哪个基因？对于第一个问题，研究人员将分析来自五个地点的雄性孔雀鱼的照片，并将模式分为颜色类别。研究人员假设在遗传分歧人群的雄性颜色模式中将存在融合。第二个问题将使用下一代DNA测序回答。对于五个地点中的每个地点，将对颜色和未颜色的尾巴的男性组织进行测序。将一个位置的尾巴颜色类型之间的差异表达基因与其他位点的尾巴颜色类型之间的差异表达基因进行比较，以测试收敛。研究人员将能够确定表型收敛是否与相同基因的表达，同一途径内的不同基因或不同途径相关。