Skip to main content
European Commission logo
français français
CORDIS - Résultats de la recherche de l’UE
CORDIS
CORDIS Web 30th anniversary CORDIS Web 30th anniversary

“EPIgenetic impacts on early-stage SPECiation and adaptive radiation”

Objectif

Phenotypic plasticity plays a key role at the onset of the speciation process, facilitating diversification though the induction of novel phenotypes in response to distinct environments. Via genetic accommodation and genetic assimilation, this influence may extend throughout the speciation process and beyond, into subsequent speciation events. While the epigenetic regulation of gene expression that mediates phenotypic plasticity has been extensively studied in lab-based model organisms, very little is known about epigenetic variation in natural populations. This project will be the first epigenetic study explicitly focused on the speciation process. Using cutting-edge techniques, the applicant will characterize DNA methylation variation within and among the sympatric species of a recently discovered endemic cichlid fish radiation in Lake Massoko, Tanzania. Specifically the applicant will test: if 1) newly formed species differ in the distributions of epigenetic marks across the genome, 2) genomic variants linked to phenotypic divergence among species are in genomic regions unusually high in DNA methylation, as expected under a hypothesis of epigenetic differences preceding fixed nucleotide differences during adaptive divergence, 3) genomic regions diverging in patterns of methylation among incipient species are also exhibiting high levels of methylation in populations of Astatotilapia calliptera, the ancestral, colonizing species. The results of this pioneering project will provide the first empirical evidence of the importance of epigenetic variation during the emergence of new species.

Régime de financement

MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF

Coordinateur

UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL
Contribution nette de l'UE
€ 183 454,80
Adresse
BEACON HOUSE QUEENS ROAD
BS8 1QU Bristol
Royaume-Uni

Voir sur la carte

Région
South West (England) Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Bristol/Bath area Bristol, City of
Type d’activité
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Liens
Coût total
€ 183 454,80