Objective An inescapable consequence of sex in eukaryotes is the evolution of a biphasic life cycle with alternating diploid and haploid phases. The occurrence of selection during both phases has far reaching consequences for fundamental evolutionary processes including the rate of adaptation, the extent of inbreeding depression and the load of deleterious mutations, as well as for applied research into assisted fertilization. It has been a long-standing dogma that, unlike in plants, selection at the haploid gametic level in animals is of no great importance. However, empirical evidence for postmeiotic haploid gene expression is increasing and with the recent recognition of the importance of epigenetic effects for evolutionary mechanisms it is paramount to revisit haploid selection in animals. The aim of the proposed project is to reconsider haploid selection in animals and to investigate the relative importance of genetic and epigenetic effects in sperm for the subsequent generation. The project consists of three logically connected parts, which tackle the question from different angles using the zebrafish Danio rerio as the main model system. In Part I, I will disentangle genetic from epigenetic effects and identify epigenetic effects that affect sperm and offspring performance by combining experimental evolution with next-generation sequencing data. In Part II, I will pinpoint genes that are expressed at the postmeiotic haploid stage of spermatogenesis and determine which of these genes may be under haploid selection. In Part III, I will get to the core of the question and perform single-cell genotyping to explore possible links between sperm phenotype and the underlying sperm genotype. By combining aspects from evolutionary biology, mathematical modeling, genomics and developmental biology this project will advance our understanding of how epigenetic and genetic differences among gametes shape phenotypes and mediate evolutionary change in animals. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesevolutionary biologynatural sciencesbiological sciencesdevelopmental biologynatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsmutationnatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsepigeneticsnatural sciencesmathematicsapplied mathematicsmathematical model Programme(s) FP7-IDEAS-ERC - Specific programme: "Ideas" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) ERC-SG-LS8 - ERC Starting Grant - Evolutionary, population and environmental biology Call for proposal ERC-2013-StG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-SG - ERC Starting Grant Host institution UNIVERSITY OF EAST ANGLIA EU contribution € 274 709,41 Address EARLHAM ROAD NR4 7TJ Norwich United Kingdom See on map Region East of England East Anglia Norwich and East Norfolk Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Principal investigator Simone Immler Maklakov (Dr.) Administrative Contact Emma King (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Beneficiaries (2) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all UNIVERSITY OF EAST ANGLIA United Kingdom EU contribution € 274 709,41 Address EARLHAM ROAD NR4 7TJ Norwich See on map Region East of England East Anglia Norwich and East Norfolk Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Principal investigator Simone Immler Maklakov (Dr.) Administrative Contact Emma King (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data UPPSALA UNIVERSITET Participation ended Sweden EU contribution € 1 165 538,59 Address VON KRAEMERS ALLE 4 751 05 Uppsala See on map Region Östra Sverige Östra Mellansverige Uppsala län Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Frida Svedbergh (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data
