Theoretical aspects of adaptive and convergent molecular evolution and their applications in comparative genomics

• Grant number: 18/19682-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: January 07, 2019
• End date: January 06, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics
• Principal Investigator: Mariana Freitas Nery
• Grantee: Lucas Araujo Freitas
• Supervisor: Mario dos Reis Barros
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Queen Mary University of London, England
• Associated to the scholarship: 17/25058-2 - Adaptive convergent evolution of hematophagy-related genes in Insecta, BP.PD

Abstract

The ease in genome sequencing nowadays is increasing the number of studies in several research fields, e.g. molecular evolution and comparative genomics. However, despite the availability of many new genomes every year, theoretical studies are necessary to correctly explore this data. In this context, this project is designed to determine the best approaches while analyzing comparative genomics data. To delineate these best approaches we will employ both simulated and empirical data from Insecta and other taxonomic groups. The project is subdivided in three different topics corresponding to three different common comparative genomics analysis. In the first we will determine the influence of distinct evolutionary rate (É) parameter values in PAML's likelihood ratio test results. In the second we will infer convergent and parallel substitutions along random sets of species to determine the patterns of these substitutions along the genomes of independently evolved lineages. In the third we will determine the influence of distinct divergence time estimations on analysis of gene families evolution. At the end of this project we expect to determine and provide the best approaches to be used in large-scale comparative genomic studies, such as the genetic basis for the hematophagy evolution in Insecta.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

FREITAS, LUCAS; NERY, MARIANA F.. Expansions and contractions in gene families of independently-evolved blood-feeding insects. BMC Evolutionary Biology, v. 20, n. 1, JUL 17 2020. (17/25058-2, 18/19682-8, 15/18269-1)

FREITAS, LUCAS; NERY, MARIANA F.. Positive selection in multiple salivary gland proteins of Anophelinae reveals potential targets for vector control. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION, v. 100, p. 6-pg., 2022-06-01. (18/19682-8, 17/25058-2, 15/18269-1)