Objective
Recent empirical evidence suggests that individuals use genetic compatibility (or genetic dissimilarity) as a criterion when choosing mates. Heterozygote offspring should have a fitness advantage compared with homozygotes and therefore females choose the m ales that share the fewest alleles across loci with the female - the genetically compatible males. We propose to study the effect of genetic incompatibility on fitness and female choice for genetic compatible males in selection experiments using the beetle Callasobruchus maculatus. We will create different homozygote genotypes through selection of replicated female isolines and test the different genotypes for incompatibility on standard nuclear genetic backgrounds. Females will be given the possibility to mate with males of different compatibility relative to their own genotype in choice experiments. Pre- and post mating female choice will be examined through paternity analyses and fitness will be determined in bioassays. Understanding the role of choice for genetic dissimilarity is a major challenge to the prevailing concepts of mate choice and sexual selection.
The criterion of choice for genetic dissimilarity is based on the relative difference between particular genomes rather than an absolute quality criterion such as heterozygosity per se or a fixed trait, such as a condition-dependent male signal. We will establish whether females make use of both absolute and relative criteria and will strive to resolve the apparent paradox that is inherent in simultaneous mate choice of these two types of male traits. Preliminary studies of this system have shown that both types of male traits are important in mate choice. By using standard fitness assays, we will for the first time be able to relate the mate choices females make with the fitness consequences of these choices. This research will be fundamental for understanding evolutionary processes of reproductive isolation, genetic divergence and parapatric speciation.
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 evolutionary biology
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics genomes
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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)
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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
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
FP6-2004-MOBILITY-5
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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.
Coordinator
UPPSALA
Sweden
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.