Descripción del proyecto
Los mecanismos genómicos de la evolución de los organismos
Durante la transición de algunos organismos de la superficie al medio ambiente subterráneo se producen cambios fenotípicos, que incluyen la pérdida de ojos y la piel pigmentación de la piel, y el aumento de los órganos sensoriales no visuales. El proteo («Proteus anguinus») está catalogado como una especie vulnerable y representa un ejemplo famoso de evolución convergente en esta transición. En el proyecto GENEVOLCAV, financiado con fondos europeos, se empleará el proteo como organismo modelo para investigar y explicar los mecanismos genómicos implicados en esta transición. Su equipo reconstruirá el número de transiciones independientes de la superficie a las cuevas en todos los linajes del proteo, creará un cariograma del genoma del proteo, identificará los mecanismos genéticos y selectivos, y reconstruirá la historia demográfica de los linajes del proteo.
Objetivo
Understanding the causes of major changes of form and function of organisms is one of the big goals of evolutionary biology. Dramatic phenotypic changes happen at the transition from the surface to a subterranean life. They involve the loss of eyes and skin pigmentation, and augmentation of non-visual sensory organs. In this project I will investigate the genetic mechanisms involved in this transition, using the olm (Proteus anguinus), the largest obligate cave inhabitant, as a model organism. The olm is famous for its peculiar appearance and as a European flagship species of conservation priority. Underscoring its importance, sir David Attenborough listed it as one of ten species he would take on his personal ark to save it from extinction. The olm represents a famous example of convergent evolution at the transition from surface to caves, as already noted by Charles Darwin in his 'On the origin of species'. My overarching goal is to elucidate the genomic mechanisms involved in this transition. The specific objectives of this project are to i) reconstruct the number of independent transitions from surface to caves across all olm lineages, ii) produce a full chromosome-level assembly of the olm's genome, iii) identify the genetic and selective mechanisms associated with this transition, and iv) reconstruct the demographic history of olm lineages. This research will be made possible by combining the expertise of world-leading institutions in cave biology (University of Ljubljana) and sequencing technology (BGI- Research). Using this expertise and knowledge, I will answer a long-lasting question about the evolutionary mechanisms that drive the loss of characters. In addition, my work will contribute to the largest genome assembled for any animal species. The identification of independent evolutionary lineages will help setting urgently needed international conservation priorities for olms.
Ámbito científico
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Régimen de financiación
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)Coordinador
1000 Ljubljana
Eslovenia