Obiettivo Our understanding of microbial genetic diversity in nature and how it relates to phenotypic divergence is extremely limited, including for social traits like those exhibited by myxobacteria. Relying on next-generation sequencing, the project proposed here seeks to quantify the roles that the forces of evolution play in shaping genomic and social divergence in natural populations of the model cooperative myxobacterium, Myxoccocus xanthus. First, I will use a global and spatially hierarchical collection of natural isolates spanning large metric scales to grasp both total and spatially partitioned genetic diversity in M. xanthus. Second, I will analyze genetic substitution patterns among these natural isolates, and quantify signals of selection and drift under special consideration of a “gold-standard” mutation rate estimate directly inferred from whole genome sequences of a large collection of lab evolved strains of M. xanthus. Third, I will link previously published phenotypic patterns in closely related natural isolates to their whole genome data to infer their underlying molecular mechanisms, and candidate mutations will be tested directly through construction of isogenic clones in the lab. This proposal offers me the excellent opportunity to receive cutting-edge training at one of Europe’s elite universities and will increase my level of scientific maturity and independence. It will also contribute European excellence in applying cutting-edge technologies to conceptually important questions. Campo scientifico natural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologybacteriologynatural sciencesbiological sciencesevolutionary biologynatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsmutationnatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsgenomes Programma(i) FP7-PEOPLE - Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Argomento(i) FP7-PEOPLE-2012-IEF - Marie-Curie Action: "Intra-European fellowships for career development" Invito a presentare proposte FP7-PEOPLE-2012-IEF Vedi altri progetti per questo bando Meccanismo di finanziamento MC-IEF - Intra-European Fellowships (IEF) Coordinatore EIDGENOESSISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE ZUERICH Contributo UE € 192 622,20 Indirizzo Raemistrasse 101 8092 Zuerich Svizzera Mostra sulla mappa Regione Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera Zürich Zürich Tipo di attività Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Contatto amministrativo Gregory Velicer (Prof.) Collegamenti Contatta l’organizzazione Opens in new window Sito web Opens in new window Costo totale Nessun dato