Genetic associations of fitness-relevant trait variations in birds, using a genomic approach of heterozygosity-fitness analysis

• Applicant: Privatdozent Dr. Jakob Müller
• Subject Area: Evolutionary Cell and Developmental Biology (Zoology)
• Term: from 2008 to 2012
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 58651660

It has frequently been reported that genetic diversity in an individual’s genome correlates with its fitness, e.g. number of viable offspring or survival in the natural environment. Current studies comprise only a very limited number of genetic markers and hence there is an ongoing debate about the underlying factors and consequences of genetic diversity-fitness associations. Proposed hypotheses range from general deleterious inbreeding effects to advantageous heterozygosity effects at single genes. This project uses the data of a long-term study (9 years) on a wild blue tit population, where a significant correlation between genetic diversity and fitness components at six random markers was found. In an effort to develop and genotype 60 gene-based and 20 gene-free markers in the blue tit population, we want to understand the basic mechanisms of genetic diversity-fitness relationships in a genome-wide perspective. The existence of such relationships in certain functional groups of genes, e.g. immune related genes, will be tested. Additional analyses on selection regimes (balancing selection or positive selection) and environmental interactions by genotyping the same set of loci in five European blue tit population samples originating from different environments are planned to independently confirm the interpretation of the genetic diversity-fitness findings.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants