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Using genome diversity and evolution in natural outcrossing populations to understand adaptation and meet global challenges

Reference	BBS/E/J/000C0680
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Dr Levi Yant
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	John Innes Centre
Department	John Innes Centre Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	206,328
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/08/2015
End date	31/03/2017
Duration	19 months

Abstract

Whole genome duplication (WGD) occurs in all eukaryotic kingdoms and is implicated in organismal complexity and adaptation. WGD is also a central force in plant evolution and domestication. But despite the potential of WGD, sudden duplication of all chromosomes poses challenges to key processes, especially meiotic chromosome segregation. Nonetheless, nature reveals solutions: the diverse polyploid species with stable meiosis show that difficulties can be overcome. However, the molecular basis of this is mysterious: only one causal gene has been cloned to date. Our work in Arabidopsis arenosa revealed clear WGD-associated selective sweeps on meiosis genes with roles in crossover regulation. Natural variation in these genes has a dramatic effect on meiotic chromosome pairing, but the mechanisms underlying this, as well as its broader generalizability, are unknown. We now assess whether diverse species that independently adapted to the challenges attending WGD evolved similar solutions. In particular, we test whether crossover regulation is a common target of WGD adaptation, how standing variation in diploid populations contributes, and whether the genetic architecture of other challenges– in particular, severe soil mineral nutrient homeostasis challenges – are similar to the architecture mediating WGD adaptation. We do this by: -Population sampling, phenotyping, and genome assemblies. -Genome scanning (demographic, coalescent, and selective sweep analysis). -Functional analysis of discovered alternate alleles. -Comparison of genetic architecture underlying adaptation. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying adaptation to severe, quantifiable stressors provides insight into how organisms adapt to the altered intracellular environment (WGD), as well as how they adapt to challenging soil conditions, both of which are crucially important, prevalent ongoing forces in evolution and in the domestication of globally important crops.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Not funded via Committee
Research Topics	Plant Science
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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