Project description
Tracing evolution, one DNA strand at a time
Evolution is one of nature’s most basic yet least understood processes. Understanding it through universal laws is difficult due to the complexity of biological systems and the numerous variables in experimental models. The ERC-funded Q-EVO project addresses this issue with the Affinity-based DNA Synthetic Evolution (ADSE) platform, which examines evolution at the molecular level. By using DNA sequences as stand-ins for organisms, ADSE recreates ecological interactions such as competition, mutualism, and parasitism through predictable DNA-DNA hybridisation. Q-EVO pairs this with array-based biosensors, data science, and theoretical ecology to monitor hundreds of parallel evolutionary experiments across multiple generations. By mapping population dynamics, phylogenetic paths, and ecological networks, it aims to provide the first complete quantitative description of fitness, speciation, and environment-driven evolution, with all data made publicly available.
Objective
Among the fundamental processes governing Nature, evolution is one of the most thoroughlAmong the fundamental processes governing Nature, evolution is one of the most thoroughly described and less formalized. The grand goal of describing evolution via clean universal laws is made difficult by the inherent complexity of both the biological systems and the available experimental models, which generally involve a large number of potentially relevant variables of difficult quantification.
This project is built around the Affinity-based DNA Synthetic Evolution (ADSE) platform, an experimental strategy to generate and study evolution at a molecular level that enables full quantitative description of the eco-evolutionary processes. ADSE is inspired by the in-vitro molecular selection protocol “SELEX” and enables observing the evolution across generations of large populations of DNA oligomers whose identity is given by their sequence. The key innovation is that here evolutionary mechanisms and ecological interactions (selection of the fittest, resource gathering capacity, parasitism, mutualism etc…) are given by molecular interactions based on DNA-DNA hybridization, a process that is well known and predictable from sequences.
Q-EVO is based on a combination of ADSE with an innovative array-based biosensor, approaches of data science and notions of theoretical ecology. Q-EVO aims at providing a (still missing) quantitative description of the key concepts of fitness and speciation, and of the relationship between a given environment and the evolution of its ecosystem. I propose a program capable to produce hundreds of parallel evolutions for tens of generations exploring a vast variety of conditions. Raw data, formed by hundreds of millions of reads, will be analysed to follow population dynamics, extract phylogenetic paths, parametrizing the network of ecological interactions (e.g. competitors, mutualists, parasites) and will be made public in a repository created ad hoc.
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 genetics DNA
- natural sciences biological sciences ecology ecosystems
- natural sciences biological sciences biological behavioural sciences ethology biological interactions
- social sciences law
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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.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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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
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.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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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-2024-ADG
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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.
20122 Milano
Italy
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.