Objectif Evolutionary innovations are biological revolutions: new organs are critically associated with the emergence of new species and their exploitation of new niches. Despite their importance in the history of life, how morphological novelty arises and evolves is a long-standing question in Evolutionary Biology. In this proposal, I will address the genetic basis of the emergence of one of the most striking examples of a sexually dimorphic novel structure. Males of the mayfly species Cloeon dipterum develop, in addition to the compound eyes (shared by males and females), an extra pair of extremely large dorsal, turban-shaped eyes. To unveil the genetic forces that control the specification and development of this new visual system, I will combine a number of experimental approaches, including non-invasive imaging using X-Ray microtomography, gene expression analyses, genomics, transcriptomics, epigenomics and genome editing to knit a gene regulatory network. This network will be mapped in time and space onto the developing structures and it will help finding which genetic changes trigger the development of the turbanate eye and how these changes operate. This research will represent one of the most detailed studies to understand what are the genetic causes underlying morphological novelties. In addition, establishing C. dipterum as a model will serve as a foundation for further investigations in an organism placed in a key position in the phylogeny of insects, creating a new scientific line for my future establishment as an independent researcher. Champ scientifique natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiological morphologycomparative morphologynatural sciencesbiological sciencesevolutionary biologynatural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsmicroscopyelectron microscopynatural sciencesbiological scienceszoologyentomologynatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsepigenetics Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Thème(s) MSCA-IF-2014-EF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF-EF) Appel à propositions H2020-MSCA-IF-2014 Voir d’autres projets de cet appel Régime de financement MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF Coordinateur AGENCIA ESTATAL CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS Contribution nette de l'UE € 158 121,60 Adresse CALLE SERRANO 117 28006 Madrid Espagne Voir sur la carte Région Comunidad de Madrid Comunidad de Madrid Madrid Type d’activité Research Organisations Liens Contacter l’organisation Opens in new window Site web Opens in new window Participation aux programmes de R&I de l'UE Opens in new window Réseau de collaboration HORIZON Opens in new window Coût total € 158 121,60