The genes and gene networks underlying fertilization barriers in a hybrid zone

 “Hybrid zones are windows on evolutionary process, but each window opens on a different landscape. Evolutionary biologists have peered through many windows, but only in a few cases have they done more than crudely sketch the scene outside.”

— RICHARD G. HARRISON, OXFORD SURVEYS, 1990, PG. 117

*** We are recruiting Graduate Students and Postdocs to work on this project. If you are interested, contact Erica Larson. ***

Males and females have evolved a complex interplay between gametes, reproductive tracts, and their secretions that ultimately lead to fertilization. The coevolution of male and female postmating traits can lead to rapid divergence and the evolution of postmating prezygotic (PMPZ) barriers between species. An outstanding question in speciation is whether and how the evolution of PMPZ barrier differs from other premating and postzygotic barriers. To answer this requires we understand the genetic basis of PMPZ barriers, but the genetic basis of PMPZ barriers has been investigated in only a handful of study systems. This project will integrate genetic mapping of PMPZ barrier traits with comparisons of gene regulatory network divergence and eQTL mapping in reproductive tissues to gain a comprehensive characterization of the genes and gene networks that contribute to PMPZ barriers. We will evaluate the effects of selection on these genes and pathways in recombinant genomes using natural variation in a hybrid zone. This project is funded by a NSF CAREER grant.

 
 
 

Research Opportunities

We are recruiting Graduate students and Postdocs to work on this project and synergistic research. There are a number of research opportunities, including:

  1. Genomic analyses of extensive population genomic datasets (WGS, RNAseq).

  2. Field work throughout the hybrid zone. Field season spans late July - early October with flexible schedules for collecting or conducting work in the field.

  3. Lab crosses for QTL analysis and to investigate population variation in fertilization barriers.

  4. New directions exploring these processes in other, closely related cricket systems.

  5. Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) opportunities in various University of Denver courses.