Innovating Works

VENORIGN

Financiado
Deciphering Evolutionary Innovations: Comparative genomics of the origin and los...
Deciphering Evolutionary Innovations: Comparative genomics of the origin and loss of venom in marine snails The VENORIGN project aims to understand the evolution of novelty in biology. A major goal of contemporary evolutionary biology is to decipher the molecular basis of major phenotypic innovations in organisms, such as winged flight... The VENORIGN project aims to understand the evolution of novelty in biology. A major goal of contemporary evolutionary biology is to decipher the molecular basis of major phenotypic innovations in organisms, such as winged flight in birds and echolocation in whales. However, most cases of evolutionary novelty involve complex interactions among multiple genes, each with only minor effects. To address this challenge, we turn to venomous marine snails, specifically the Conoidea group, which includes cone snails and related species. Venom in these snails is linked to a limited set of proteins called toxins, representing the primary genetic changes responsible for the shift from non-venomous to venomous animals. The long-standing interest in cone snail toxins provides a unique context for studying this transition. Yet, the origins of the conoidean venom system and the processes governing multiple venom losses remain poorly understood. This project tests the hypothesis that the origin and loss of conoidean venom resulted from rapid genomic and morphological changes and will investigate these genetic and morphological alterations driving venom's emergence and disappearance. Using cutting-edge methods spanning morphology, taxonomy, genomics, and transcriptomics, we will analyze venomous and non-venomous conoidean and related species. This comprehensive comparison will reveal the processes governing venom acquisition and loss, shedding light on the principles of evolutionary novelty. Our work extends beyond venomous snails, offering a novel model to understand the molecular foundations of significant evolutionary changes. These findings will contribute to our understanding of how novel traits emerge in various biological systems, including human pathogens and agricultural development. ver más
31/08/2027
Innovasjon Norge
211K€
Perfil tecnológico estimado
Duración del proyecto: 40 meses Fecha Inicio: 2024-04-10
Fecha Fin: 2027-08-31

Línea de financiación: concedida

El organismo HORIZON EUROPE notifico la concesión del proyecto el día 2024-04-10
Línea de financiación objetivo El proyecto se financió a través de la siguiente ayuda:
HORIZON-MSCA-2023-PF-01-01: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2023
Cerrada hace 1 año
Presupuesto El presupuesto total del proyecto asciende a 211K€
Líder del proyecto
Innovasjon Norge No se ha especificado una descripción o un objeto social para esta compañía.