Objective
Transposable elements (TEs) are mobile genetic parasites infecting the genomes of most organisms, so abundantly as to be a major determinant of genome size in eukaryotes. They can be harmful, as their ability to mobilise makes them highly mutagenic and a threat to host genome integrity. Hence, organisms have evolved several TE repression mechanisms, especially in the germline, where new mutations can be transmitted to progeny. TEs challenge these silencing strategies by invading new genomes through horizontal transfer, but hosts appear to rapidly adapt to these new TEs. The classic example is the invasion of the Drosophila melanogaster genome by the P-element: TE repression in this system evolved so quickly that the P-element and its repressors (recently discovered to be due to a small RNA pathway) appeared almost simultaneously. The selective pressure may have been intense: crosses between D. melanogaster males containing P-elements and females devoid of it lead to frequent F1 sterility and other aberrant traits. This phenomenon, associated with uncontrolled P-element mobilization, is named “hybrid dysgenesis”.
Due in part to its rapidity, little is known about the early stages of TE repression evolution. In this work, we propose to take advantage of a rare opportunity to study the adaptation to a TE invasion in real time. Less than a decade ago, the P-element invaded the genome of D. simulans, a sister species of the genetic model. We aim to disentangle the molecular mechanisms involved in the establishment of P-element silencing in D. simulans. In particular, we will study the effects of dysgenesis and repression in males, which have been largely neglected to date. As a result, their role in the rapid spread of the P-element remains elusive. This work will contribute to deciphering how TE silencing is established during novel TE invasions, a crucial part of understanding the dynamics between TEs and their hosts.
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 genetics mutation
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics RNA
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics genomes
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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.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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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.
MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF
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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) H2020-MSCA-IF-2017
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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.
L69 7ZX LIVERPOOL
United Kingdom
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.