Objective
Biological diversity is created by the formation of new species and thus speciation is a fundamental process responsible for diversity of life. Progress has been made in identifying individual ‘speciation genes’ causing specific forms of reproductive isolation. In contrast, debates persist about how the speciation process unfolds from beginning to end (i.e. the mechanisms of speciation) and the fraction of the genome involved. What factors explain variability in how far speciation proceeds? This question was framed by Darwin and an active debate concerns whether speciation proceeds further via: (1) strong natural selection on a few genes, resulting in isolated ‘genomic islands of divergence’, or (2) by selection acting on a greater number of genes across the genome. This proposal outlines a research program aimed at resolving this debate, a task that is required to understand the origins of diversity. Specifically, I will use field experiments which measure natural selection at the genomic level to directly test, for the first time, how selection acts on the genome across different stages of the speciation process. The approach uses an integrative combination of eco-morphology, next-generation DNA sequencing, population genomics, manipulative experiments in nature, and linkage mapping to study the origins of diversity. The work is novel in: (1) examining many closely-related taxon pairs (rather than just a few) which vary in how far speciation has proceeded, thereby reconstructing how speciation unfolds, and (2) experimentally measuring (rather than inferring via observation) selection on the genome. The proposed work will clarify our understanding of speciation. By coupling genomics and ecology via experimental approaches, the results will build a new understanding of the natural history of the genome.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
- humanities history and archaeology history
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics DNA
- natural sciences biological sciences ecology
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics genomes
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
ERC-2011-StG_20101109
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Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Host institution
S10 2TN SHEFFIELD
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.