Objective
The traditional view of the genome is that of a highly coordinated network that has evolved to produce a successful individual. However, the alternative view of the genome as containing intrinsically conflicting parts that coevolve antagonistically, has recently emerged. Today, it is widely accepted that conflicts caused by selfish genetic elements is a driving force for evolutionary innovation, and hence, is of fundamental importance for all aspects of evolution. Nevertheless, empirical data on the topic is largely lacking. Here, I introduce the fungus Neurospora as a novel study system of the evolutionary significance of meiotic drive. In this sexual eukaryote model system, the meiotic drive element Spore killer is found. The cytological properties and natural distribution of Spore killing in Neurospora has been investigated for several decades, and preliminary data suggests that it is an important driver of both genome evolution and of higher-order evolutionary processes. The existing knowledge and resources of this system provide a foundation for the proposed research program, in which I plan to build a tool-kit of genomic and experimental resources to I) identify and characterize the gene(s) encoding Spore killer elements, II) assess the strength of Spore killer as a meiotic drive, III) unravel the evolutionary history of the Spore killer complex in Neurospora, IV) investigate the association between Spore killer and genome evolution, and V) analyze the role of Spore killer as a driver of speciation and mating system transitions. This research program will manifest the Spore killer as a primary and pioneering model for the study of meiotic drive, and profoundly impact our understanding of segregation distorters as drivers of eukaryote genome evolution. Furthermore, insights emerging from the project presented are conceptually important for basic evolutionary biology, in the study of natural selection acting at multitudinal levels in a biological hierarchy.
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: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- humanities history and archaeology history
- natural sciences biological sciences evolutionary biology
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology mycology
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics mutation
- 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.
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H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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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.
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.
ERC-COG - Consolidator Grant
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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.
(opens in new window) ERC-2014-CoG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
751 05 Uppsala
Sweden
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.