| Project Detail |
Insight into the interaction between mitochondrial and nuclear genomes in bumblebees
Numts are non-functional copies of genes of mitochondrial origin present in the nuclear genome, and heteroplasmy is the presence of different mitochondrial genotypes in the same organism. Although they are completely distinct molecular phenomena, both can obstacles as well as new tools for evolutionary studies. EVOBOMICS is an EU-funded project that aims to investigate numts, heteroplasmy, nuclear and mitochondrial genomes from an evolutionary perspective. Researchers will identify numts and heteroplasmy in bumblebees. Project results with the combined sequencing of mitochondrial and nuclear genomes will help understand their evolution and interaction.
Cutting edge sequencing technology enables, for the first time, the characterization of high quality numts (non-functional copies of genes of mitochondrial origin present in the nuclear genome) and heteroplasmy (the presence of different mitochondrial genotypes in the same organism). Although they are completely distinct molecular phenomena, both can be at the same time obstacles and new tools for evolutionary studies. EVOBOMICS is three projects in one, in which numts, heteroplasmy and genomes (nuclear and mitochondrial) will be studied at the same time and from an evolutionary perspective. The following hypotheses will be tested: i) Numts and heteroplasmy are common in a target model taxon (bumblebees); ii) The number of numts in any given species will increase/decrease proportionately with its nuclear genome size; iii) Ancestral numts are related to speciation events, and thus provide a novel tool for constructing and investigating phylogenies; iv) Numts can be used as molecular marker for phylogenomic reconstruction as truly RGCs (rare genomic changes); v) Heteroplasmy is not a temporary state and is shared among close related species; vi) Heteroplasmy can interfere in species delimitation and is related to speciation events.
My previous experience and preliminary results ensure the feasibility of EVOBOMICS. During my PhD in Brazil, I initiated an unprecedented and unique research programme into the evolution of mitochondrial genomes, with a focus on numts and heteroplasmy in bees. So far, five articles have been published. Together, these studies suggest that numts and heteroplasmy are common phenomena in bees, and this is likely to be representative of many other taxa. These studies had to be interrupted due to motherhood, but now, EVOBOMICS will give me the opportunity to develop this new research area using innovative methodological approaches, and to update and improve my skills, providing a key stepping stone for my career in Evolutionary Biology. |
