Collaborative Research: EDGE CMT: Mechanistic basis of cricket wing dimorphism: predicting phenotype from genotype in complex threshold traits

合作研究：EDGE CMT：蟋蟀翅膀二态性的机制基础：从复杂阈值性状的基因型预测表型

• 批准号: 2319791
• 负责人: Kristi Montooth
• 金额: $ 107.33万
• 依托单位: University of Nebraska-Lincoln
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2023-09-01 至 2027-08-31
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2319791&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; EDGE; CMT; Mechanistic

Many traits, including disease states in humans, come in two discrete forms (i.e., are dimorphic), yet their genetic basis is not caused by a simple single Mendelian genetic factor. The role of genetics and the processes that generate discrete forms from continuous genetic and environmental inputs are not well understood, limiting our ability to predict traits from genomic information and to understand the evolution of these complex traits. The project will develop and use a powerful model system, North American field crickets in the genus Gryllus, to discover the genetic, developmental, physiological, and environmental processes that convert genetic variation and environmental inputs into a dimorphic trait. The project will impact society through improving our ability to predict complex traits across environments, potentially improving disease interventions, enhancing outcomes for selective breeding of domesticated and managed species and populations, and predicting species’ responses to environmental change. Crickets are increasingly used as an alternative food source, and the insights into cricket biology and genomes generated by this project will be a valuable resource for those developing these insects as a sustainable food source. The project will train early career scientists in programs that are broadening participation in the STEM workforce. Finally, the research will be used to generate museum activities that will engage with urban and rural communities to improve science literacy and the appreciation of crickets in the wild and as food. The project will generate foundational and generalizable knowledge on the mechanisms that connect genotype-to-phenotype for dichotomous traits with complex multigenic architecture. The project will develop genomic resources for Gryllus field crickets and use these tools in a phylogenetic framework to generate a mechanistic understanding of how multigenic and environmental variation combines with developmental thresholds to jointly determine discrete dimorphic phenotypes. Multiple species of field cricket are dimorphic for alternative wing morphs, with adults emerging as either long-winged, flight-capable crickets with delayed reproduction or as short-winged, flightless crickets that can reproduce immediately. Previous studies indicate wing dimorphisms in field crickets are classic alternative life-history strategies that are environmentally sensitive and shaped by multigenic variation consistent with the quantitative genetic threshold trait model. The project integrates quantitative, evolutionary, and functional genetic approaches to mechanistically dissect the genomic, developmental, and physiological basis for alternative life-history strategies. The project results will inform prediction of phenotype from genotype generally for complex multigenic dimorphisms, such as protective, trophic, and mating polymorphisms, in addition to threshold traits that impact human disease and breeding of domesticated species. The proposed phylogenetic framework will inform how dimorphic life-history strategies may be maintained, gained, or lost during species radiations.This project is jointly funded by the Enabling Discovery through GEnomics (EDGE) program and the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR).This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

许多特征，包括人类的疾病状态，有两种离散形式（即是二态），但它们的遗传基础并不是由简单的单一孟德尔遗传因素引起的。遗传学的作用以及从连续的遗传和环境输入中产生离散形式的过程尚不清楚，从而限制了我们从基因组信息中预测性状的能力，并了解这些复杂性状的演变。该项目将开发和使用强大的模型系统，即Gryllus属的北美田野板球，以发现将遗传变异和环境输入转化为二态性状的遗传，发育，物理和环境过程。该项目将通过提高我们预测跨环境的复杂特征，可能改善疾病干预措施，增强驯养和托管物种和人群选择性繁殖的结果的能力来影响社会，并预测物种对环境变化的反应。板球越来越多地用作替代食品来源，对该项目产生的板球生物学和基因组的见解将成为那些将这些昆虫作为可持续食品来源的人来说是宝贵的资源。该项目将培训早期的职业科学家，以扩大参与STEM劳动力的计划。最后，这项研究将用于发起博物馆活动，以与城市和农村社区互动，以提高科学素养以及野外和作为食物中板球的欣赏。该项目将对将基因型与表达性质连接到具有复杂多基因体系结构的二分法的机制产生基础和可推广的知识。该项目将开发用于Gryllus场板球的基因组资源，并在系统发育框架中使用这些工具来产生对多基因和环境变化如何与发育阈值相结合的机械理解，以共同确定离散的二态表型。多种野外板球是替代机翼形态的二态性，成年人出现为长翅膀的，具有飞行能力的板球，具有延迟的繁殖或短翅，无飞行的板球，可以立即繁殖。先前的研究表明，场板球中的机翼二态性是经典的替代生活历史策略，它们对环境敏感，并由与定量遗传阈值特质模型一致的多基因变异形成。该项目整合了定量，进化和功能遗传方法，以机械剖析替代生活历史策略的基因组，发育和物理基础。该项目的结果将为复杂的多基因二态性（例如受保护，营养和交配多态性）提供的表型预测，除了影响人类疾病的阈值特征和驯养物种的繁殖外。所提出的系统发育框架将告知如何在物种辐射期间如何维持，获得或丢失二态生命创造策略。该项目由通过基因组学计划（EDGE）计划（EDGE）计划（EDGE）计划和既定的计划共同资助，以刺激竞争性研究（EPSCOR）的既定奖项（EPSCOR）。这一奖项反映了NSF的范围范围的范围，其范围均具有智力的构建，并具有良好的构建，其范围是依据的，其范围的范围是依据的范围。 标准。