Objective
In this project I will investigate the contribution of sexually antagonistic effects to the maintenance of heritable genetic variation in natural populations. Evolutionary theory predicts the depletion of genetic variation by selection, because both natura l and sexual selection should continually favour certain genotypes at the expense of others. Nevertheless, genetic variation is abundant across numerous fitness related traits, suggesting that favourable alleles are not quickly fixed. This leaves us with o ne of the most puzzling, yet largely unresolved paradoxes in evolutionary theory, namely how heritable genetic variance is maintained in natural populations. Theory and recent data from the model system Drosophila suggest that gender specific selection on loci expressed in both sexes (sexual antagonism) may be one of the most important factors maintaining genetic variance for fitness. I will be trained in quantitative genetic methods to investigate the contribution of sexually antagonistic effects to the av erage selection response of various traits in wild populations of Soay sheep (Ovis aries) and red deer (Cervus elaphus). The data sets provided by my collaborators at ICAPB, Univ. Edinburgh, are unparalleled among mammal study populations in the level of d etailed life history, morphometric, and pedigree information. They offer the unique possibility to extrapolate theoretical expectations of how sexually antagonistic effects can counteract the erosion of genetic polymorphism, to the understanding of evoluti onary processes in natural populations. I will apply powerful maximum likelihood analytical techniques (the `animal model¿) to quantify the genetic correlation of fitness between males and females, to test for sexually antagonistic selection and negative g enetic correlations in quantitative traits, and to detect sex linkage of the investigated traits.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
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.
Topic(s)
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.
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.
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.
FP6-2002-MOBILITY-5
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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.
Coordinator
EDINBURGH
United Kingdom
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.