Project description
Cellular RNA and phenotype in the context of development and evolution
Despite well-established links between development and evolution, the cellular mechanisms connecting genotype to evolved phenotype remain poorly understood, particularly regarding how mutations alter cell type composition or intrinsic cell properties. The ERC-funded IntEvoCell project will address this gap by focusing on colouration in the phenotypically diverse and species-rich family of Cichlidae. Because colouration depends on a limited set of pigment cell types, this fish family is a powerful model to study the links among genes, cells and traits. By combining single-cell RNA sequencing with high-throughput cellular phenotyping, the project will investigate how cellular changes during development drive epithelial coloration traits and fuel evolutionary diversification of phenotypically different species.
Objective
During development, tissues are formed by the assembly of different cell types. Evolutionary changes in tissue phenotypes can be the result of mutations that alter the cell type composition or the cell types and their inherent properties. Although these are clear mechanistic links between development and evolution, most research has focused on the endpoints of the genotype-phenotype map, treating the cellular mechanisms that bridge genotype and phenotype as a black box.
How changes in cell types contribute to the evolutionary change of tissues has been largely neglected, although it may be a key element driving phenotypic diversity. To study the role of cellular diversification in evolution, I will use a vertebrate system that has proven ideal for genotype-phenotype mapping: the species-rich and phenotypically diverse family of cichlid fishes. By focusing on a phenotypic trait (coloration) whose properties are directly linked to the cellular properties of a manageable number of pigment cell types, I will investigate the functional and mechanistic links that connect cellular changes to phenotypic changes arising during development (formation of distinct epithelial coloration traits) and evolution (formation of phenotypically diverse species). Using novel methodological approaches, I will phenotype cells in an integrative manner using a combination of single-cell RNA sequencing and high-throughput cellular phenotyping. The sufficiently (but not excessively) complex system of integumentary pigment cells is ideal for making concrete functional predictions about how cellular changes ultimately drive evolutionary change. This proposal will refine the concept of cell types and cellular variation in an evolutionary developmental context. It will pave the way for novel insights into how transcriptional changes drive the divergent and convergent evolution of cellular traits and thereby cause the emergence of tissue phenotypes.
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.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
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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.
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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) ERC-2025-COG
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00014 Helsinki
Finland
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