Objective Which genes have shifted in evolutionary rates during the history of the Primates (monkeys, apes and humans); and what does the function of these genes tell us about adaptation in our Order? The aim of this proposal is to investigate changes in the speed of primate gene evolution, using complete genome sequences from at least six species of Primates augmented by data from other species in the Order, including Neanderthals. The specific aims of the proposal are i) to identify functional classes of genes (e.g. cognition and immune system) whose rates of evolution diverge from general trends in primate gene evolution, ii) to build a picture of the gene functions that characterise human evolution integrated over the 20,000 to 25,000 human genes, and iii) to relate these functional classes to selective processes at the level of primate ecology (e.g. parasitism, predation, mating system and social behaviour). The work will require novel bioinformatics and comparative methods that can identify genes whose evolution varies in rate and mode throughout the primate tree, and these be developed and made freely available to other scientists. By building on a wider set of species and genes than previously studied the results of the research will provide the first “whole genome functional map” perspective of the conserved and altered gene functions occurring during the evolution of the lineage leading to modern humans. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological scienceszoologymammalogyprimatologynatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsgenomesnatural sciencesbiological sciencesmolecular biologymolecular evolution Keywords Bioinformatics Comparative Analysis Computational Biology Genomics Heterotachy Human Biology Molecular Evolution Phylogeny Proteomics Programme(s) FP7-PEOPLE - Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) FP7-PEOPLE-IEF-2008 - Marie Curie Action: "Intra-European Fellowships for Career Development" Call for proposal FP7-PEOPLE-IEF-2008 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MC-IEF - Intra-European Fellowships (IEF) Coordinator THE UNIVERSITY OF READING EU contribution € 162 568,66 Address WHITEKNIGHTS CAMPUS WHITEKNIGHTS HOUSE RG6 6AH Reading United Kingdom See on map Region South East (England) Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Berkshire Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Gemma Lowe (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data
