Award Abstract #0842219
Inferring Species Phylogenies Under the Coalescent Model with Hybridization

NSF Org:	DEB Division of Environmental Biology
Initial Amendment Date:	January 21, 2009
Latest Amendment Date:	January 21, 2009
Award Number:	0842219
Award Instrument:	Standard Grant
Program Manager:	George W. Gilchrist DEB Division of Environmental Biology BIO Directorate for Biological Sciences
Start Date:	January 15, 2009
Expires:	December 31, 2011 (Estimated)
Awarded Amount to Date:	$226946
Investigator(s):	Laura Kubatko lkubatko@stat.ohio-state.edu (Principal Investigator)
Sponsor:	Ohio State University Research Foundation 1960 KENNY RD Columbus, OH 43210 614/292-3732
NSF Program(s):	EVOLUTIONARY GENETICS
Field Application(s):
Program Reference Code(s):	EGCH, 9169, 7378, 1127
Program Element Code(s):	7378

ABSTRACT

Understanding evolutionary relationships among a collection of species is one of the most fundamental objectives in evolutionary biology. Advances in DNA sequencing technology have resulted in a shift toward the use of multiple genes to infer such phylogenetic histories. With this shift has come the realization that each gene in the genome has its own history, which may differ from the overall evolutionary history of the species. In this project, two processes known to cause discord between gene and species histories will be modeled statistically. The first, termed "incomplete lineage sorting," leads to substantial differences in the evolution of individual genes and occurs in virtually all organisms. The second, hybridization - the mating of individuals from two distinct species with the production of viable offspring - is believed to occur for as many as 25% of plants and 10% of animals. This project will develop statistical methods that integrate both of these processes simultaneously to reconstruct the history of evolutionary relationships among organisms.

Development of statistically-sound phylogenetic models incorporating both processes will allow two fundamental biological issues to be addressed: (1) estimation of the extent of historical hybridization between pairs of species; and (2) inference of the true phylogenetic history when gene-by-gene variation due to both processes is taken into account. The result will be more accurate understanding of the evolutionary relationships among present-day species. In addition, the investigator is involved in an NSF-funded program in mathematical biology for undergraduates, and thus undergraduate researchers will participate in some aspects of this research.

Please report errors in award information by writing to: awardsearch@nsf.gov.