| NSF Org: |
BCS Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences |
| Recipient: |
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| Initial Amendment Date: | July 11, 2017 |
| Latest Amendment Date: | June 21, 2024 |
| Award Number: | 1718715 |
| Award Instrument: | Continuing Grant |
| Program Manager: |
Rebecca Ferrell
rferrell@nsf.gov (703)292-7850 BCS Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences SBE Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences |
| Start Date: | July 15, 2017 |
| End Date: | September 30, 2024 (Estimated) |
| Total Intended Award Amount: | $208,990.00 |
| Total Awarded Amount to Date: | $208,990.00 |
| Funds Obligated to Date: |
FY 2018 = $159,397.00 |
| History of Investigator: |
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| Recipient Sponsored Research Office: |
1500 HORNING RD KENT OH US 44242-0001 (330)672-2070 |
| Sponsor Congressional District: |
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| Primary Place of Performance: |
Kent OH US 44242-0001 |
| Primary Place of
Performance Congressional District: |
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| Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): |
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| Parent UEI: |
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| NSF Program(s): | Biological Anthropology |
| Primary Program Source: |
01001819DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT |
| Program Reference Code(s): |
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| Program Element Code(s): |
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| Award Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Fund Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Assistance Listing Number(s): | 47.075 |
ABSTRACT
This is an investigation of whether hybridization between closely-related species has been a significant force in the evolution of primates. Recent research has uncovered that up to 5% of the DNA of many modern humans originated from ancient interbreeding with Neanderthal populations, raising the broader question of whether a species' genetic makeup includes genes brought together through occasional episodes of hybridization. In the present study, the genomes of a group of monkey species will be compared to determine whether segments of DNA have been transferred between species over evolutionary time. The project will broaden participation of groups under-represented in science through a partnership with the McNair Scholars Program (a federal program that identifies promising undergraduates who are first-generation, low-income and/or under-represented in PhD programs) and by working with other organizations that focus on similar groups of high school students, such as the Harlem Children's Society, BridgeUp:STEM, and ARISE in New York City. The project will also enhance infrastructure for research by making all custom-written software freely available on the internet and by presenting such software in workshops at the annual conference of H3ABioNet, a pan-African bioinformatics group.
Hybridization has been reported among numerous species with the Cercopithecins. Thus, if historical interbreeding indeed leaves its mark on a species' genome, such evidence should be readily identified in these animals and serve as a model system for investigating hybridization in primates. Two central questions will be addressed. First, are genes more likely to be exchanged between closely related species (e.g., within a genus), or species with deep evolutionary separation (e.g., different genera)? The former scenario allows for a higher frequency of hybridization due to greater overall biological similarity, while the latter scenario allows for more variant, and possibly more advantageous, forms of genes to evolve and transfer between species. Second, will genes exchanged through hybridization be unique, or will patterns of genes with similar functions be found to repeatedly cross between species? If the latter, such patterns will reveal a more general pattern by identifying genes that are likely the essential drivers of the evolutionary process in primates. "Consensus" evolutionary relationships among these monkey species will be derived from an analysis of the total non-coding DNA sequence; this amounts to the majority of the genome and reflects the "true" set of evolutionary relationships. Coding sequences will then be analyzed individually and compared across all possible pairs of species; some sequences will follow the consensus pattern, but those that do not will likely reflect genes exchanged through hybridization. A series of statistical calculations will measure the probability of such genes being correctly identified as transfers via hybridization.
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PROJECT OUTCOMES REPORT
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This Project Outcomes Report for the General Public is displayed verbatim as submitted by the Principal Investigator (PI) for this award. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this Report are those of the PI and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation; NSF has not approved or endorsed its content.
Hybridization, in which two different species interbreed, is quite common in nature, but its importance as an evolutionary force is still debated. Since the finding that ancient human relatives, called archaic hominins, contributed to the modern human gene pool, there has been increased interest in this phenomenon. Studies on how this process works among primates can provide needed context for understanding interbreeding between species.
One question is whether animals that are closely related or those that are more distantly related are more likely to exchange genetic material in an evolutionarily impactful way. On one hand, animals that are closely related (like those in the same genus) can more easily hybridize. But on the other hand, animals that are more distantly related (like those from different genera) have more unique variation to offer which may be adaptive and novel. However, the further apart the species are, the higher the chance that their mixed genomes might not work well together, which could lead to less healthy offspring. Another question is about the kinds of genes that get passed on during hybridization. Are these genes random, or do they tend to have similar functions across different hybridization events?
To investigate these questions, we studied a group of tree-dwelling monkeys called guenons, which belong to the tribe Cercopithecini. By understanding how genetic exchange works in these monkeys, we gained insights into how it might work in other animals, including ancient humans. This study is also important for understanding diseases like SIV, the monkey version of HIV. Guenons are a major carrier of SIV, and understanding their evolutionary relationships can help track how the virus has changed over time. Interestingly, the evolutionary tree of SIV does not match the one for guenons, suggesting the virus did not evolve alongside its hosts but was instead passed between different monkey species. A clearer picture of how guenons are related could also help in studying this important disease that can jump from animals to humans.
To understand hybridization in guenon monkeys, we sequenced multiple genomes using long read DNA sequencing technology. We also designed an array of RNA baits used to pull guenon DNA out of historic museum skin samples, making genomic analyses of these specimens feasible. Together, these datasets have allowed us to detect instances of hybridization as well as ancestral changes in population size and correlate these to climate events. As part of the project, undergraduate students, graduate students, and a postdoctoral researcher have received training in molecular and bioinformatic analyses. The project has prompted a multi-institution collaborative network that has benefitted the careers of many junior scientists and trainees.
Last Modified: 02/20/2025
Modified by: Anthony J Tosi
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