Objective
A central aim of contemporary research on the origin of species is to identify the genes that are functionally differentiated between nascent species. Understanding the molecular-genetic basis of speciation will answer important questions that are of broad interest to geneticists, ecologists and evolutionary biologists. The RESPEC project will identify such “speciation genes”, map them onto conventional phylogenies and genetically reconstruct the process of speciation. Pollinator-mediated speciation is an attractive system to achieve these goals. Speciation in Petunia is recent, ongoing and prezygotic. Shifts in pollination syndromes are complex but are composed of distinct traits that can be studied individually. The advertising traits color and scent are known to be encoded by major effect genes, but for morphological traits no such information is available.
The Objectives of RESPEC are:
1. Substitute the four major-effect mutations for advertising traits into the hawkmoth-pollinated species, thereby creating an artificial mimic of the derived bee-pollinated species
2. Identify the major-effect genes that specify the morphological differences between a moth- and a hummingbird-pollinated species
3. Reconstruct the process of speciation during the shift from hawkmoth to hummingbird pollination
The identification and functional analysis of a complete set of major-effect genes will for the first time provide comprehensive molecular information about the process of speciation in a single system. This will make it possible to construct a “functional phylogeny” that resolves the conflicts inherent in classical phylogenies of recent radiations. The allele substitution experiments will demonstrate the importance of major-effect genes in speciation as opposed to Darwin’s view of evolution by gradual change. This has never been done before and was long thought to be impossible on theoretical grounds.
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 biological morphology comparative morphology
- engineering and technology materials engineering colors
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics mutation
- natural sciences mathematics pure mathematics mathematical analysis functional analysis
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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)
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.
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H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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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.
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.
ERC-ADG - Advanced Grant
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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.
(opens in new window) ERC-2016-ADG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
3012 BERN
Switzerland
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.