Objective During meiosis, homologous recombination plays a mechanical role by connecting homologous chromosomes, thus allowing proper chromosome segregation during the first meiotic division. In most species, the absence of meiotic recombination leads to sterility. In addition, recombination generates new combinations of alleles, increases genome diversity and plays a major role in genome evolution.Meiotic recombination is initiated by the programmed induction of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), but how these events are controlled at the molecular level and how they are constrained by selective pressures during evolution is not understood.Our recent historical discovery that the Prdm9 gene controls the localization of recombination in the mouse and human genomes revolutionizes our view on this process, with one main unanticipated finding: the highly dynamic and fast evolution of Prdm9 and of meiotic DSB sites in the genome. Understanding meiotic recombination clearly requires the development of novel approaches to analyze this process from both molecular and evolutionary perspectives.To this aim, we will develop an extensive analysis of Prdm9 as its activity, role, regulators and sites of action in the genome need to be identified and understood in order to gain insight into its dynamics and evolution.We will develop a unique and challenging strategy to overcome the limitation of laboratory mice and pioneer the analysis of Prdm9 and recombination activity in wild mice.We thus aim at making a breakthrough in the field by bringing molecular genetics and evolutionary biology together, to grasp the significance of meiotic recombination for genome evolution and sexual reproduction in eukaryotes. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesmolecular biologymolecular geneticsnatural sciencesbiological sciencesevolutionary biologynatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsheredity 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-AG-LS1 - ERC Advanced Grant - Molecular and Structural Biology and Biochemistry Call for proposal ERC-2012-ADG_20120314 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-AG - ERC Advanced Grant Host institution CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRS EU contribution € 2 491 899,00 Address RUE MICHEL ANGE 3 75794 Paris France See on map Region Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Paris Activity type Research Organisations Principal investigator Bernard Robert De Massy (Dr.) Administrative Contact Jocelyn Mere (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Beneficiaries (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRS France EU contribution € 2 491 899,00 Address RUE MICHEL ANGE 3 75794 Paris See on map Region Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Paris Activity type Research Organisations Principal investigator Bernard Robert De Massy (Dr.) Administrative Contact Jocelyn Mere (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data