Project description
Tracing whole genome duplications in invertebrate evolution
Whole genome duplication (WGD) – the doubling of an organism’s entire genetic material – is a powerful evolutionary force that fosters innovation and adaptation. It is well documented in plants and some vertebrates, but its role in invertebrates remains unclear. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the CheliPloidy project will investigate WGD across chelicerates such as spiders and scorpions. Using advanced genomic and phylogenetic tools, it will identify ancient duplication signals and test competing evolutionary scenarios. The findings will clarify the timing and frequency of WGD and highlight the genomic evolution and diversification of this key arthropod lineage.
Objective
Whole genome duplication (WGD) is a drastic event that results in the creation of new genetic material and has been suggested to play a major role in evolutionary innovations and adaptation. While ancestral WGDs (paleoploidizations) are common in plants, only a handful examples have been proposed in animals, such as in vertebrates or salmons. Among invertebrates, WGD events have been inferred in chelicerates, an arthropod clade including marine and terrestrial groups – the arachnids. Specifically, a shared event in the common ancestor of spider and scorpions, and up to 3 independent rounds in the marine horseshoe crabs. However, many of these inferences are mostly based on evidence from few loci, such as Hox genes, with a recent study questioning the validity of these conclusions. Therefore, genome-wide investigations with a diverse taxon sampling may help to answer how many paleoploidization events have taken place in chelicerates.
The CheliPloidy project will investigate the signals of WGD in chelicerates using newly assembled complete genome encompassing most of their diversity. Importantly, no study has considered that return to diploidy may have happened at different intervals (delayed rediploidization), scenario compatible with the different gene histories seen in the group. We will employ multiple state-of-the-art methods and develop novel ones to look for these signals. For example, we will analyse thousands of gene families trees, assess their synteny, and compare signals of divergence among within-species paralogs (including ohnologs derived from the WGD). As the phylogeny of chelicerates is contentious, we will test the most likely scenarios –alternative backbone trees– to polarize patterns of WGD (how many and which are shared). Altogheter, this project will not only sheds light on the complex genome evolution and the phylogeny of chelicerates, but also demonstrates how a combination of comparative methods can be used to infer signals of ancient WGDs.
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.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
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.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
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-2024-PF-01
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08007 BARCELONA
Spain
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