SubsidieMeestersThe evolution of new organs during insects’ conquest of the sky
This project aims to investigate the evolutionary origins and impacts of wings and turbanate eyes in insects, using mayflies as a model to enhance understanding of morphological novelties.
Projectdetails
Introduction
The history of life on Earth has been defined by key game-changing events. In animals, this has often been driven by the appearance of novel organs, conferring new capabilities to explore new niches and adaptive landscapes, completely changing the subsequent evolution of certain lineages.
Focus of the Proposal
This proposal will focus on one of the most fascinating and revolutionary events in animal history: insects' conquest of the skies.
Origin of Wings
First, by addressing the origin of the morphological change responsible for this revolution: the origin of wings.
Cascading Effects
Second, by studying one of the multiple cascading effects set off by this initial event that continued shaping flying insects' anatomy and boosted their diversification: the turbanate eyes of mayflies, a sex-specific extra set of eyes that males use to find mates during flight.
Research Challenges
We still know very little about these two events, due to the lack of data from key species and the need for multilevel and quantitative approaches.
Experimental Platform
My lab will overcome these difficulties by using a unique experimental platform that I have built over the last five years: the setup of mayflies, a key group to study insect evolution, as a new experimentally tractable model.
Research Methods
We will study the genetic basis and key factors underlying the origin of these two organs, with a multidisciplinary view combining:
- Single cell -omics
- Developmental and functional approaches
- In the case of new eyes, their impact on physiology and diversification
By comparing these two evolutionary processes, we will unveil key common and specific events in the evolution of the gene regulatory networks behind the origin of these two new organs.
Expected Outcomes
This project will generate the most comprehensive picture of two novel organs with huge impact in the evolution and ecology of winged insects and mayflies, answering long-standing evolutionary questions on morphological novelties.
Conclusion
This will have a major impact on the way we study and understand the origin of new forms and their transformative nature.
Financiële details & Tijdlijn
Financiële details
| Subsidiebedrag | € 1.995.263 |
| Totale projectbegroting | € 1.995.263 |
Tijdlijn
| Startdatum | 1-2-2023 |
| Einddatum | 31-1-2028 |
| Subsidiejaar | 2023 |
Partners & Locaties
Projectpartners
- UNIVERSITAT DE BARCELONApenvoerder
Land(en)
Vergelijkbare projecten binnen European Research Council
| Project | Regeling | Bedrag | Jaar | Actie |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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The evolution of neural circuits for navigational decisions - from synapses to behavior
This project aims to unravel the evolution of decision-making circuits in insect brains by integrating anatomy, connectomics, and behavior to understand their adaptability and complexity.
Genetic Engineering of Regulatory Evolution
GenRevo aims to uncover how regulatory sequences influence gene expression and phenotypes by re-engineering bat wing genetics in mice, advancing understanding of non-coding DNA's role in evolution and disease.
Evolutionary feedback between traits and species diversification: convergence and divergence in sympatric butterflies of the Amazonian rainforest
This project investigates the evolutionary dynamics of sympatric Morpho butterflies to understand how trait diversification influences niche specialization and speciation in the Amazon.
The impact of chromatin on genome organisation, function and evolution
This project investigates how variations in chromatin composition affect genome organization and function in Lepidoptera, focusing on centromere divergence and 3D chromosome topology.
Evolutionary immunology: using insect models to unravel STING-dependent conserved and innovative antiviral strategies
This project aims to explore antiviral gene diversity in insects, leveraging cGAMP-triggered responses in Drosophila to identify novel antiviral mechanisms for potential therapeutic applications.