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The genetic basis of species origin: What can we learn from organisms with female heterogamety? (2018-2020)

Investigator: doc. Mgr. Tomáš Albrecht, Ph.D.
Number of Project: 18-14325S
Agency: Czech Science Foundation
Duration: 01. 01. 2018 - 31. 12. 2020

A large effect of sex chromosomes in speciation belongs to the most general patterns in evolutionary biology. The underlying mechanisms are, however, still poorly understood and the vast majority of studies exploring the role of sex chromosomes in speciation have been carried out on organisms with male heterogamety (with XY sex chromosomes). Here we propose to study the role of sex chromosomes in speciation in taxa with female heterogamety (with ZW sex chromosomes), using two naturally hybridizing avian species as a model system. By employing a wide range of approaches including analyses of whole genomes and transcriptomes, genetic mapping using experimental crosses and in vivo fertilization experiments, we aim at identifying specific genes and molecular mechanisms responsible for reproductive isolation between species and the large effect of sex chromosomes in this process. Comparison of speciation mechanisms in species with male and female heterogamety will make it possible to separate the effect of sex from heterogamety, which will provide new insights in the speciation process.