Project description
Insight into the evolution of genomic complexity
Brown algae are found exclusively in marine habitats and range from small filamentous forms to large, complex seaweeds. They constitute a great genetic model for studying the evolution of multicellular species. Funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the PhaeoCREEvol project will test the role of cis-regulatory elements (CRE) in the evolution of genomic complexity. CREs are regions of non-coding DNA which regulate the transcription of specific genes. Researchers will analyse multiomics datasets and correlate them with lineage-specific CREs and cellular complexity. Project findings will provide important insights into CRE evolution, benefiting biology and supporting the ecological role of brown algae.
Objective
Brown algae are a multicellular clade that display remarkable diversity in developmental and physiological complexity, and in life history traits. They evolved independently and more recently than animals and plants, making them a uniquely powerful system to characterise the genomic changes that underlie the emergence of complex multicellularity. I will specifically test the hypothesis that cis-regulatory element (CRE) evolution plays a leading role the evolution of complexity. Harnessing large-scale multiomics datasets, I will quantify lineage-specific rates of CRE gains and losses, and attempt to link these events to transitions in complexity. I will combine signatures of constraint from a 59-species whole-genome alignment with functional epigenomic data (ATAC-seq, ChIP-seq) from five representative species to produce fine-scale maps of deeply conserved and recently acquired CREs.
To understand the mechanisms of CRE evolution, I will annotate transposable elements (TEs) and quantify variation in TE diversity, abundance and activity. I will characterise what roles TEs have had in CRE dissemination. I will also explore between-species variation in the proportion of proximal and distal CREs. I will analyse high-resolution Hi-C data for four species to ask what effect distal regulation has on 3D genome organisation (i.e. are distal CREs and the genes they regulate topologically associated?).
PhaeoCREEvol will inform upon the rates and mechanisms of CRE evolution during the emergence of complexity, providing a highly pertinent comparison to animals and plants. This will increase our knowledge of regulatory evolution in general, while shedding light onto the fundamental biology of a largely unstudied eukaryotic group. Brown algae play critical ecological roles and have significant potential to mitigate climate change, enhance global food security, and deliver novel industrial solutions, providing key motivations to better understand their genetics and evolution.
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.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
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.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
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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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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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) HORIZON-MSCA-2022-PF-01
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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.
80539 MUNCHEN
Germany
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.