Four-year collaborative project seeks to understand key process linked to evolution. Scientists are seeking to uncover how a significant, naturally occurring genetic process has shaped the complexity and diversity of many species during evolution.An international team of researchers will investigate a phenomenon in which a species’ entire DNA code is duplicated, becoming four strands instead of the usual two, before reforming over millions of years to become two chains once more.This doubling of all the genetic material in one event, known as whole genome duplication, enables genes to acquire new functions through time. This can give rise to new traits and is thought to have enabled plants, animals and other types of organisms to become more diverse and potentially more complex. Scientists will study fish and many other types of organisms. Investigating genomes The team, led by the Roslin Institute, will investigate how evolution unfolds after these events, allowing genes to diverge into duplicates, gaining new functions as they do so. In a four-year, £5.3m project, the researchers will examine genomes from diverse groups of fish, plants, fungi and single-celled organisms.Their project will examine how the potential of duplication events is unlocked during evolution, establishing key processes that underpin the origins of adaptation, biological complexity and species diversity. Whole genome duplications are a major but incompletely understood facet of the evolutionary story of many species – this project aims to uncover important new insights into the mechanisms by which these key events have shaped life on Earth. Professor Dan Macqueen Project leader, Roslin Institute The team also involves the University of Edinburgh’s School of Biological Sciences, the Universities of Bath, Bristol and Oxford, the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, and the Wellcome Sanger Institute. They will make use of high-quality genomic data and new sequencing technologies to understand the importance of whole genome duplication events across the tree of life. Analysis of our own human genome reveals that our ancestors underwent not one but two rounds of whole genome duplication. This likely provided the raw materials for innovative evolutionary change, and we now know that this genetic doubling is common across all life. This new sLoLa award from BBSRC will use the unrivalled genome sequencing skills of experts at the Wellcome Sanger Institute to provide reference genomes for key species. This will give us the essential foundations we need to understand the pattern and process of genomic doubling. It builds upon our work in the Darwin Tree of Life project, where we are sequencing all the species of Britain and Ireland, and shows the value of the high-quality data we produce. Professor Mark Blaxter Wellcome Sanger Institute Long-term discovery research is crucial for pioneering significant scientific advancements. This highly collaborative field requires world-leading researchers and research technical professionals to unite and leverage their interdisciplinary skills to answer some of life’s most fundamental questions.“Through our bold and innovative sLoLa scheme, BBSRC proudly recognises the exceptional talent within the UK bioscience community. By investing in these four ambitious projects, we champion the value of team science. This approach is instrumental not only in advancing our scientific understanding but also in propelling us towards groundbreaking discoveries that have the potential to make a real impact on our global society. Professor Anne Ferguson-Smith BBSRC Executive Chair ** The Roslin Institute receives strategic investment funding from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council and it is part of the University of Edinburgh’s Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies. ** Image credit: Shutterstock. This article was published on 2024-12-10
