SpecIAnt · Speciation in ants: Unraveling the genetic, epigenetic and molecular basis of speciation using wood ants
Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2018-09-01 → 2021-09-01
- EU contribution
- €191,326
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- MSCA-IF
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Results in brief
Speciation in ants: Unraveling the genetic, epigenetic and molecular basis of speciation using wood ants
This project will contribute to answering some of the outstanding questions in speciation with three aims. First, I will confirm candidate speciation genes that I have discovered. Second, I will investigate the molecular basis of reproductive isolation using protein modeling and network analysis, testing the idea that speciation genes do not evolve independent of each other, but instead are part of same functional networks. Third, I will combine genomic data on three levels to study the relative roles of genes, gene expression and epigenetics in speciation. To achieve these goals I will use ant species of the Formica rufa s.str. and capitalize on my previous studies on hybridization in this group. In addition to the above aims I will develop an outreach programme on evolution and through collaboration with the Finnish Environment Institute help to elucidate the role of hybrids for forest ecosystems.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
The enormous amount of diversity that surrounds us raises one of the key questions in evolutionary biology: How do new species originate? Speciation depends on the evolution of reproductive isolation but, with few exceptions, the genes underlying reproductive isolation and their modes of action are unknown. The novelty of this project lies in testing if, in addition to mutations in genes, epigenetics and gene expression are mechanisms that contribute to the process of speciation. For these aims I will use wood ants and their hybrids combining large-scale data sets on genomes, gene expression and genome-wide methylation. These approaches will be complemented with protein modeling of candidate genes resulting in a multidisciplinary project. Further aims are to develop an outreach programme on evolution for high schools and in collaboration with the Finnish Environment Institute to investigate the role of hybrids in forest ecosystems. Together these objectives yield a project that has high scientific standing and societal importance.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- HELSINGIN YLIOPISTO · HelsinkiCoordinatorFinland
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union