Objective
Living organisms exhibit great variation in size and shape, and display many morphological innovations. Recent progress has been made in identifying the genetic basis for the evolution of some traits but there remains a paucity of knowledge concerning the evolution of complex morphological traits, and how the underlying changes arose and spread in populations. This proposal will address this by establishing a research program to investigate the genetic basis for the evolution of intra- and inter- specific differences in a complex sensory organ, the insect compound eye. Drosophila mauritiana has significantly larger eyes than its sibling species D. simulans. However, there is also considerable eye size variation between D. simulans populations. Taking advantage of our knowledge of eye development in flies, this proposal will describe the developmental basis for eye size differences and investigate the number and distribution of photoreceptor subtypes (which are sensitive to different light wavelengths) between species and populations with eye size variation. In addition, the proposal will take advantage of cutting edge methods to map the molecular basis for eye size evolution between D. mauritiana and D. simulans, and compare this to the genetic architecture of eye size differences within D. simulans. Population genetic approaches will then be applied to test evolved sequences for directional selection. Thus, this project will not only reveal the genetic changes in development underlying the evolution of eye size and resolve the contribution of standing genetic variation for eye size differences within species to differences between species, but also establish this trait as a model for future studies of morphological evolution.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
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-2009-StG
See other projects for this call
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
OX3 OBP OXFORD
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.