Objectif 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. Champ scientifique natural sciencesbiological sciencesevolutionary biologynatural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologymycologynatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsmutationnatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticshereditynatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsgenomes Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme Thème(s) ERC-CoG-2014 - ERC Consolidator Grant Appel à propositions ERC-2014-CoG Voir d’autres projets de cet appel Régime de financement ERC-COG - Consolidator Grant Institution d’accueil UPPSALA UNIVERSITET Contribution nette de l'UE € 2 000 000,00 Adresse VON KRAEMERS ALLE 4 751 05 Uppsala Suède Voir sur la carte Région Östra Sverige Östra Mellansverige Uppsala län Type d’activité Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Liens Contacter l’organisation Opens in new window Site web Opens in new window Participation aux programmes de R&I de l'UE Opens in new window Réseau de collaboration HORIZON Opens in new window Coût total € 2 000 000,00 Bénéficiaires (1) Trier par ordre alphabétique Trier par contribution nette de l'UE Tout développer Tout réduire UPPSALA UNIVERSITET Suède Contribution nette de l'UE € 2 000 000,00 Adresse VON KRAEMERS ALLE 4 751 05 Uppsala Voir sur la carte Région Östra Sverige Östra Mellansverige Uppsala län Type d’activité Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Liens Contacter l’organisation Opens in new window Site web Opens in new window Participation aux programmes de R&I de l'UE Opens in new window Réseau de collaboration HORIZON Opens in new window Coût total € 2 000 000,00
