Project description
Genetic battles between the sexes
Males of certain species have evolved noticeable physical traits such as bright feathers or elaborate fins to attract females or outcompete other males. These sexually selected traits lead to dramatic physical differences between males and females in certain species, and different reproductive fitness or survival for each sex. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the SConCichlid project aims to investigate the genetic and developmental mechanisms underlying such sexually dimorphic traits. Researchers will use the ornamented cichlid Astatotilapia calliptera as a model organism to study how sexual conflict influences variation in these traits. Insights from this project are expected to enhance our understanding of the mechanisms driving development, diversity, and adaptation in sexually reproducing organisms.
Objective
Sexual selection is one of the major drivers for the evolution of striking phenotypes such as male ornaments contributing to sexual dimorphism in many species. These phenotypes represent some of the most remarkable within-species variation and primarily result from a shared genome between sexes. This may lead to genomic conflicts between males and females arising due to divergent reproductive fitness or survival optima for each sex and have profound implications for genome and trait evolution. Such sexual conflict can hinder the ability of species to evolve towards trait optima, but has also been hypothesized to contribute to the maintenance of genetic variation through balancing selection thereby enhancing their adaptive potential. Despite this, the mechanisms underlying the development of sexually dimorphic traits, the nature and extent of sexual conflict and its role in shaping genetic and morphological diversity remain poorly understood. In this project, I propose to study the genetic and developmental mechanisms underpinning the sexually dimorphic traits using a powerful model system of a cichlid species Astatotilapia calliptera. I will perform RNA-seq and ATAC-seq of different tissue types, sex, and ecomorphs of A. calliptera to identify the genes and gene regulatory machinery involved in the development of sexually dimorphic traits. Next, I will perform whole-genome sequencing of 600 individuals to identify genetic loci under potential sexual conflict by testing for intersexual allelic divergence and balancing selection across the genome. Finally, I will use genome-wide association methods to uncover the phenotypic effects of sexually antagonistic variation throughout development and life history, and determine if sexual conflict contributes to maintaining genetic and morphological variation, particularly in sexually selected male ornaments. This study will profoundly impact our understanding of the mechanisms underlying organismal development and diversity.
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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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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CB2 1TN CAMBRIDGE
United Kingdom
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