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Project Summary

Molecular genetic basis of microevolution of locomotor muscles in Gasterosteus aculeatus

I am basically interested in all and any questions of mechanisms of evolution. While in Oregon, I will be working with three spined sticklebacks (Gasterosterus aculeatus). This little fish has a pan-temperate distribution, consisting of anadromous and freshwater populations. There is limited phenotypic variation in the anadromous form, but it has repeatedly colonised freshwater habitats and, following this colonization undergone rapid evolution in many phenotypic traits, including life history, behavioural and morphological characters. In some instances, the same phenotype appears to have evolved independently several times. I want to use this rich natural variation in sticklebacks to determine the role that the genotype and development play in directing the path of evolution. Some specific questions that I hope to answer are:

• When isolated populations have the same phenotype, do they also use the same genes and pathways to construct that phenotype? To address this question it will first be necessary to determine which genes are involved in the development of particular traits. I am especially interested in traits that affect locomotion.
  

• Is the rapid evolution observed in this group due to genetic variation in the anadramous form that is only expressed in freshwater populations, or does the variation arise rapidly in freshwater populations through accumulation of mutations? I will look at the developmental buffering mechanisms of anadromous versus freshwater fish to answer this question.

To answer these questions I will be collaborating with other post-docs in the Postlethwait Lab, using molecular techniques to look for the presence of genes, the expression of genes and also examining stickleback phenotype of fish from various populations.