Objective Many important fitness traits including longevity, reproductive success, parasite resistance, territory-holding ability, song complexity and even attractiveness often correlate with heterozygosity in natural populations. Where documented, such heterozygosity-fitness correlations (HFCs) have the clear potential to influence interactions between pathogens and their hosts and the evolution of mate choice. However, because most studies use only around ten neutral microsatellite markers, the proximate mechanisms underlying HFCs remain obscure. Fortunately, next-generation sequencing approaches now make it possible to sequence DNA cheaply and on a massive scale, allowing large panels of Single Nucelotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) to be developed in virtually any organism. By screening these in the Antarctic fur seal, a model system in which unusually high-quality measures of fitness are available, I will for the first time determine the mechanisms underlying a range of HFCs in a natural population and uncover actual genes linked to variation in key traits including longevity, reproductive success and attractiveness. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsDNAnatural sciencesbiological scienceszoologymammalogycetology 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-2011-CIG - Marie-Curie Action: "Career Integration Grants" Call for proposal FP7-PEOPLE-2011-CIG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MC-CIG - Support for training and career development of researcher (CIG) Coordinator UNIVERSITAET BIELEFELD EU contribution € 100 000,00 Address UNIVERSITAETSSTRASSE 25 33615 Bielefeld Germany See on map Region Nordrhein-Westfalen Detmold Bielefeld, Kreisfreie Stadt Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Erika Sahrhage (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data
