Obiettivo Darwin’s theory of natural selection rests on the principle that fitness variation in natural populations has a heritable component, on which selection acts, thereby leading to evolutionary change. A fundamental and so far unresolved question for the field of evolutionary biology is to identify the genetic loci responsible for this fitness variation, thereby coming closer to an understanding of how variation is maintained in the face of continual selection. One important complicating factor in the search for fitness related genes however is the existence of separate sexes – theoretical expectations and empirical data both suggest that sexually antagonistic genes are common. The phrase “two sexes, one genome” nicely sums up the problem; selection may favour alleles in one sex, even if they have detrimental effects on the fitness of the opposite sex, since it is their net effect across both sexes that determine the likelihood that alleles persist in a population. This theoretical framework raises an interesting, and so far entirely unexplored issue: that in one sex the functional performance of some alleles is predicted to be compromised and this effect may account for some common human diseases and conditions which show genotype-sex interactions. I propose to explore the genetic basis of sex-specific fitness in a model organism in both laboratory and natural conditions and to test whether those genes identified as having sexually antagonistic effects can help explain the incidence of human diseases that display sexual dimorphism in prevalence, age of onset or severity. This multidisciplinary project directly addresses some fundamental unresolved questions in evolutionary biology: the genetic basis and maintenance of fitness variation; the evolution of sexual dimorphism; and aims to provide novel insights into the genetic basis of some common human diseases. Campo scientifico natural sciencesbiological sciencesevolutionary biologynatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsgenomes Programma(i) FP7-IDEAS-ERC - Specific programme: "Ideas" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Argomento(i) ERC-SG-LS8 - ERC Starting Grant - Evolutionary, population and environmental biology Invito a presentare proposte ERC-2011-StG_20101109 Vedi altri progetti per questo bando Meccanismo di finanziamento ERC-SG - ERC Starting Grant Istituzione ospitante THE UNIVERSITY OF SUSSEX Contributo UE € 1 500 000,00 Indirizzo SUSSEX HOUSE FALMER BN1 9RH Brighton Regno Unito Mostra sulla mappa Regione South East (England) Surrey, East and West Sussex Brighton and Hove Tipo di attività Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Ricercatore principale Edward Hugh Morrow (Dr.) Contatto amministrativo Liane Wrigg (Ms.) Collegamenti Contatta l’organizzazione Opens in new window Sito web Opens in new window Costo totale Nessun dato Beneficiari (1) Classifica in ordine alfabetico Classifica per Contributo UE Espandi tutto Riduci tutto THE UNIVERSITY OF SUSSEX Regno Unito Contributo UE € 1 500 000,00 Indirizzo SUSSEX HOUSE FALMER BN1 9RH Brighton Mostra sulla mappa Regione South East (England) Surrey, East and West Sussex Brighton and Hove Tipo di attività Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Ricercatore principale Edward Hugh Morrow (Dr.) Contatto amministrativo Liane Wrigg (Ms.) Collegamenti Contatta l’organizzazione Opens in new window Sito web Opens in new window Costo totale Nessun dato
