Long & Medium-Term Research: The Mammalian Y Chromosome, Sex Determination and Evolution, A Marsupial Approach This award recommendation is made under the Program for Long & Medium-Term Research at Foreign Centers of Excellence. The program seeks to enable U.S. scientists and engineers to conduct long-term research abroad at research institutions of proven excellence. Awards provide opportunities for the conduct of joint research, and the use of unique or comple- mentary facilities, expertise and experimental conditions in foreign countries. This award for a proposal sponsored by Dr. Linda A. Strausbaugh will support a 12-month postdoctoral research visit by Dr. Gregory K. Hampikian of the University of Connecticut to work with Dr. Jennifer M. Graves of La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, AusPtralia, on "Mammalian Y-Chromosome Evolution and Sex Determination: A Marsupial Approach." The predominant theory of mammalian Y chromosome evolution predicts that the only Y genes conserved are those involved in sex determination, male-specific traits, and X-Y pairing. Marsupials (infraclass Metatheria) diverged from placental animals (infra class Eutheria) at least 130 million years ago. The researchers propose to isolate genes conserved between the infraclasses from a marsupial Y-specific library in order to detail the general plan of mammalian sex determination and shed light on the evolution of sex chromosomes. The marsupial Y is ideal for these comparative studies because its small size (2-3 X 1,000,000 bases) facilitates library construction and its lack of an X chromosome pairing region simplifies characteri- zation. The award recommendation provides funds to cover, as appropriate, international travel, local travel abroad, stipend, dependents' allowance if applicable, and a flat administrative allowance of $250 for the U.S. home institution.
