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SUMMARY:Integrative evolutionary biology: a need for interdisciplinary stu
 dies of development\, ecology and population genetics - Ralf J. Sommer\, M
 ax-Planck Institute for Developmental Biology\, Tübingen\, Germany
DTSTART:20121212T130000Z
DTEND:20121212T140000Z
UID:TALK40844@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Vera Hunnekuhl
DESCRIPTION:Integrative evolutionary biology: a need for interdisciplinary
  studies of development\, ecology and population genetics \n\nLife on Eart
 h shows an astonishing diversity of form and phenotype. But our understand
 ing of how this diversity was generated as a result of historical processe
 s is still limited. We use a highly interdisciplinary approach that integr
 ates development\, evo-devo\, ecology and population genetics to unravel t
 he mechanistic changes that give rise to evolutionary alterations and nove
 lty. For this to be achieved well-selected model organisms with a sophisti
 cated analytical toolkit for functional investigations have to be develope
 d. We established the free-living nematode Pristionchus pacificus as a mod
 el system in evolutionary biology. P. pacificus allows in a unique manner 
 to combine laboratory studies building on genetic\, genomic and transgenic
  tools with field work in ecology and population genetics. \nDetailed inve
 stigations of vulva formation revealed that developmental mechanisms diffe
 r strongly between the model organisms C. elegans and P. pacificus. I will
  describe our work on vulva development\, providing an example for develop
 mental system drift. While evo-devo results in fundamental insight into th
 e evolution of developmental mechanisms\, it also necessitates a synthesis
  with other areas of evolutionary biology: Synthesis with “population ge
 netics” can reveal how phenotypic evolution is initiated at the micro-ev
 olutionary level and synthesis with “evolutionary ecology” can add an 
 ecological perspective to these evolutionary processes. \nP. pacificus has
  a well-defined ecological association with scarab beetles that we have in
 vestigated in great detail. More than 500 strains of P. pacificus have bee
 n isolated from around the world. In the last few years\, our biogeographi
 c work focused on La Réunion\, a young volcanic island in the Indian Ocea
 n that harbours the complete worldwide genetic diversity of P. pacificus d
 ue to independent invasions of this nematode with different carrier beetle
 s. Thus\, La Réunion represents a microscosm for studies of population ge
 netic and ecology.\nIn this context\, I will report from our most recent w
 ork focusing on the evolution of morphological novelty. P. pacificus forms
  teeth-like denticles involved in predatory feeding on fungi and other nem
 atode species. We are studying the regulation of this mouth form dimorphis
 m\, combining genetic studies with natural variation and macroevolution. I
  will describe a master switch gene of teeth regulation that couples micro
 evolution and macroevolution. These case studies will highlight the import
 ance of integrative approaches in modern evolutionary biology.\n
LOCATION:Part II Lecture Theatre\, Department of Zoology
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