Project description
Sexual antagonism driving diversity in nature
For the most part, the fascinating biological processes driving the most interactive morphological and behavioural traits in nature remain a mystery. Observations suggest that they are led by sexually antagonistic coevolution (SAC) and sexual conflict. Unfortunately, we still lack knowledge of the genetic basis of most known sexual conflict traits. Funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the PopGenSexCon project aims to shed light on the exact role of SAC and sexual conflict. To that end, it will link population genomic data with outcomes from experiments and behavioural data. Moreover, it will investigate how co-evolutionary patterns were shaped in Drosophila melanogaster (a unique species with known sexual traits) allowing the testing of hypotheses regarding SAC.
Objective
Sexual conflict and sexually antagonistic coevolution (SAC) are compelling hypotheses to explain some of the extraordinary diversity in morphological and behavioral traits observed in nature. However, the study of the genomic foundations of this conflict and the resulting population genetic dynamics are still in their infancy. This is due to a lack of knowledge about the genetic underpinnings of the most well understood sexual conflict traits. An exception to this rule are the seminal fluid and female reproductive tract proteins that interact and mediate conflicts over remating rates in the cosmopolitan model species Drosophila melanogaster. However, in this system a population-level perspective to investigate population genomic signals of SAC and the consequences for outcomes of mating interactions within populations is lacking. Here I propose to take advantage of a Europe-wide population genetic data-set as well as an ongoing pan-European collaborative sampling and phenotyping effort of D. melanogaster to understand how sexual conflict has shaped co-evolutionary patterns at genetic loci involved in sexually antagonistic traits. Furthermore, I will investigate the consequences of this genetic coevolution on contemporary male-female interactions. My proposal has three objectives: i) a population genomic analysis of population genomic data from European D. melanogaster populations, ii) lab-based behavioural experiments to investigate the male-female interactions for inbred lines obtained from populations with extreme patterns of coevolution, iii) and indirect study of the consequences of coevolution on natural behaviour via sampling of wild-caught females and determining mating/re-mating rates. This project will increase our understanding of the role of sexual conflict and sexually antagonistic coevolution in population divergence and set a standard for investigations of the genomic causes and consequences of SAC.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
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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.
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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.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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Topic(s)
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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
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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.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2021-PF-01
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10691 Stockholm
Sweden
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