Shunsuke Yoshioka

PhD student,

Research Fields

Evolutionary Biology, Plant Breeding

Keywords

Genomics, Genetics, Population Genetics, High-throughput phenotyping, Bread wheat, Cardamine

Abstract

Speciation / Polyploidization / Wheat Genetics and Genomics

Insight into the immediate evolutionary consequences of polyploid speciation from contemporary polyploids in the Swiss Alps

Polyploidization is a mode of instant speciation in which organisms acquire more than two complete sets of chromosomes. Although polyploid species are widespread across different kingdoms, the evolutionary advantages of polyploidization have long remained controversial.
I'm currently addressing evolutionary consequences of polyploid speciation, using exceptionally rare examples of newly formed polyploids found in the Swiss Alps, Cardamine insueta and C. schulzii. These Cardamine polyploid species offer a unique opportunity to observe the earliest phase of ongoing polyploid speciation in nature. In this project, I'm tackling following four key questions of the immediate effect of polyploidization by integrating genomics and ecological approaches in natural populations: (1) the number of independent origins of polyploids and severity of population bottlenecks upon their formation, (2) the mechanisms maintaining polyploid populations despite small initial population sizes, (3) the degree of genomic instability (genome shock) following polyploidization, and (4) ecological niche differentiation of polyploids relative to their progenitor species.
Overall, this project aims to elucidate the evolutionary advantages and disadvantages of polyploidization, focusing on the early phase of polyploid speciation in nature. Insights into the emergence of newly formed polyploids will deepen our understanding of the mechanism of speciation.

Cardamine insueta

A villege of Urnerboden where Cardamine neopolyploids were formed

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