Event Title
Discovering Candidate Genes in Forest Antelope to Map Adaptive Variation in Africa
Faculty Sponsor
Nicola Anthony
College(s)
College of Sciences
Submission Type
Poster
Description
The blue duiker, Philantomba monticola, is one of the most important protein sources across Central Africa, and it is therefore becoming increasingly susceptible to unsustainable hunting as well as climate-induced changes in the distribution of suitable habitat. This project aims to assess adaptive evolutionary potential of this species in order to predict how well it may be able to evolve in response to projected environmental changes across its habitat range. After surveying the available literature, we identified three promising candidate genes that might constitute targets of selection: MC1R, DMBT1 and SCL7A13. Work on other bovids has shown that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within these genes are associated with adaptive phenotypic changes linked to either disease resistance (DMBT1, SCL7A13) or coat color differentiation (MCIR). The Bos taurus genome was used to design primers in order to cross-amplify these genes in P. monticola and related artiodactyl species C. callipygus, C. dorsalis, and C. nigrifrons. The resulting amplified fragments encompassing candidate SNPs were sequenced using the BigDye kit (ABI, CA) and aligned in the program MEGA v. 6.0 (Tamura et al. 2013). In all four species, both the MC1R and SLC7A13 gene contained the SNP leading to a nonsynonymous change at the location reported. Interestingly, only the P. monticola individuals had the SNP found within the DMBT1 gene. In addition, an unrecorded nonsynonymous change was present in the DMBT1 and SLC7A13 gene of various individuals. These methods can be replicated for numerous other loci, and the sequences will be used to design primers necessary for constructing a Fluidigm array by which fecal DNA can be genotyped rapidly. Adaptive variation in the P. monticola genome will be identified and mapped across central Africa, and this data will be directly considered in identifying geographic regions of elevated adaptive potential that deserve future protection.
Discovering Candidate Genes in Forest Antelope to Map Adaptive Variation in Africa
The blue duiker, Philantomba monticola, is one of the most important protein sources across Central Africa, and it is therefore becoming increasingly susceptible to unsustainable hunting as well as climate-induced changes in the distribution of suitable habitat. This project aims to assess adaptive evolutionary potential of this species in order to predict how well it may be able to evolve in response to projected environmental changes across its habitat range. After surveying the available literature, we identified three promising candidate genes that might constitute targets of selection: MC1R, DMBT1 and SCL7A13. Work on other bovids has shown that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within these genes are associated with adaptive phenotypic changes linked to either disease resistance (DMBT1, SCL7A13) or coat color differentiation (MCIR). The Bos taurus genome was used to design primers in order to cross-amplify these genes in P. monticola and related artiodactyl species C. callipygus, C. dorsalis, and C. nigrifrons. The resulting amplified fragments encompassing candidate SNPs were sequenced using the BigDye kit (ABI, CA) and aligned in the program MEGA v. 6.0 (Tamura et al. 2013). In all four species, both the MC1R and SLC7A13 gene contained the SNP leading to a nonsynonymous change at the location reported. Interestingly, only the P. monticola individuals had the SNP found within the DMBT1 gene. In addition, an unrecorded nonsynonymous change was present in the DMBT1 and SLC7A13 gene of various individuals. These methods can be replicated for numerous other loci, and the sequences will be used to design primers necessary for constructing a Fluidigm array by which fecal DNA can be genotyped rapidly. Adaptive variation in the P. monticola genome will be identified and mapped across central Africa, and this data will be directly considered in identifying geographic regions of elevated adaptive potential that deserve future protection.
Comments
1st place, Poster