This study aims to understand how adult behavior can determine which genes are passed from parents to offspring and how these processes vary among populations within a species. These goals will be addressed by comparing the natural genetic variation in adults and their offspring within a single population of pipefish. This study will also quantify genetic variation in multiple populations across a broad geographic range, which will provide data regarding how reproductive patterns vary among populations. The focal organism is the straight-nosed pipefish, Nerophis ophidion, which is found in Sweden, and the project takes advantage of recent advances in DNA sequencing technology to analyze the genetic variation at the scale of the entire genome. This species is of interest because females compete intensely for access to mates and the males provide all care for the developing offspring.

This project addresses a major subject in biology and genetics, namely how behaviors at different stages during the life cycle affect how genes are passed on from one generation to the next. Additionally, the analytical approach of comparing genetic variation between adults and offspring using new sequencing technologies is a novel combination of a mathematical model from the 1970's and new statistical methods. This approach could have broad applications in many fields and for many species, including as a diagnostic tool for understanding what pressures are affecting threatened and endangered species and for understanding multi-generational effects of human diseases.

Agency
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Institute
Division of Environmental Biology (DEB)
Type
Standard Grant (Standard)
Application #
1401688
Program Officer
George Gilchrist
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
2014-06-01
Budget End
2017-05-31
Support Year
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
$18,915
Indirect Cost
Name
Texas A&M University
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
College Station
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
77845