Objective
Appreciation of endosymbiosis, a type of symbiosis in which a microbial partner lives within its host cells, as an important source of evolutionary novelty has developed relatively recently. In this proposal, we investigate a fundamental evolutionary process influenced by bacterial endosymbionts: the mechanisms of sex determination of their eukaryotic hosts.
In animals, the most common system of sex determination is genetic. It can also be affected by inherited bacterial endosymbionts. However, very few systems have been analyzed and there is no extensive empirical evidence of how endosymbionts can shape host sex-determining systems. In the isopod crustacean Armadillidium vulgare, genetic sex determination follows female heterogamety. However, many A. vulgare populations harbour Wolbachia bacterial endosymbionts which can invert genetic males into phenotypic functional females.
Other sex-determining factors have been identified in A. vulgare: a feminizing f element which may be a Wolbachia genome fragment carrying feminization information inserted into the host nuclear genome, and a masculinizing gene which can restore the male sex in the presence of the f element, as a result of a genetic conflict. Thus, sex determination mechanisms in A. vulgare seem to be largely driven by Wolbachia endosymbionts. However, the molecular genetic basis and evolutionary history of all these sex-determining factors is unknown.
The A. vulgare/Wolbachia model provides a unique opportunity for directly investigating the impact of endosymbionts on the evolution of host sex determination mechanisms at the molecular genetic level. We will address this issue using the latest developments of molecular genetics technologies, such as next-generation DNA sequencing and high throughput genotyping.
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.
- natural sciences biological sciences molecular biology molecular genetics
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics DNA
- natural sciences biological sciences evolutionary biology
- natural sciences biological sciences biological behavioural sciences ethology biological interactions
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics genomes
You need to log in or register to use this function
We are sorry... an unexpected error occurred during execution.
You need to be authenticated. Your session might have expired.
Thank you for your feedback. You will soon receive an email to confirm the submission. If you have selected to be notified about the reporting status, you will also be contacted when the reporting status will change.
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-2010-StG_20091118
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
75794 PARIS
France
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.