Our research focuses on two inter-related areas: sexual selection and the nature of genetic variance in natural populations. Sexual preferences for elaborate sexual displays and ornaments are thought to evolve because they benefit the choosing sex (usually females) genetically. For the genetic benefits to be possible there must be additive genetic variation (VA) for sexual ornaments, such that highly ornamented individuals can pass fitter genes on to the progeny of choosy individuals.
Mutations and genes interacting with parasites, such as genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) are important sources of genetic variation for fitness, and are therefore an important focus of our research.
Sexual selection can also affect the amount of genetic variance in natural populations, for example by purging deleterious mutations from populations, which can decrease the cost of sexual reproduction and decrease the risk of population extinction. However, sexual selection also leads to divergent selection on sexes, which can increase sexually antagonistic genetic variation within populations.
Sexual selection often leads to the maintenance of alternative reproductive phenotypes (ARPs) within sexes. Evolution of ARPs, including its genetic aspects, is another area of our research.
Currently, our main study species include acarid mites, guppies and bank voles. See our current projects for more details.
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News & jobs
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PhD position starting 1st October 2018
PhD
position in evolutionary biology is available for four years starting from 1st
October 2018 in NCN-funded project aiming to investigate the effect of sexual
selection on genome-wide genetic variation using a powerful approach of
experimental evolution coupled with genome re-sequencing. The student will receive stipend of 4500
PLN/month and, in addition to carrying our research, will have opportunity to attend
specialized courses for PhD students in English. The candidate should hold MSc
degree in biological sciences or bioinformatics.
Further information
about the project and application procedure can be obtained from the project
leader via email: jradwan@amu.edu.pl
Brief
summary of the project:
Genetic
variation is a fuel of evolution, therefore assessing the ...
Posted May 22, 2018, 4:01 AM by Jacek Radwan
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Novel MHC alleles give their guppy hosts advantage in dealing with ectoparasites
In our recent article "Immunogenetic novelty confers a selective advantage in host–pathogen coevolution" published in PNAS (read informal story behind the paper here), we demonstrate that MHC alleles to which Gyrodactylus flukes had no opportunity to adapt are associated with less severe infection in hosts. The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is one of the most polymorphic gene families in the vertebrate genome, with natural selection actively promoting and maintaining variability. The exact mechanism/mechanisms responsible for these characteristics remain unclear, but identifying them is fundamental to our understanding of host–pathogen dynamics. Using targeted crosses of the model Trinidadian guppy, a tractable parasite, and exposure-controlled infection trials, we show that novel MHC variants are associated with less severe ...
Posted Jun 15, 2018, 5:33 AM by Jacek Radwan
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New grants and stipends for our team members!
Recently we
received some grants and stipends!
PRELUDIUM
is a National Science Center’s opportunity intended for pre-doctoral researchers
about to embark on their scientific career. We are happy to announce that Aleksandra
Łukasiewicz from our team received this grant for the project entitled Environmental
quality and intensity of sexual conflict. The project aim to test the assumption
that the low-quality food during development should reduce intensity of sexual
conflict. Ola with her project was first in the ranking in the environmental biology & evolution panel (NZ8)!
Congratulations Ola! Here you can find out more about the project.
START is a
stipend from Foundation for Polish Sciences that is dedicated to young
researchers, at the outset of their career ...
Posted May 16, 2017, 7:06 AM by Piotr Bentkowski
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