Project description:SNP genotyping was used to determine if the free living Highland Wild dogs of Papua, Indonesia are the ansestors of captive New Guinea Singing Dogs.
Project description:New Guinea singing dogs (NGSD) are identifiable by their namesake vocalizations, which are unlike any other canid population. Their novel behaviors and potential singular origin during dog domestication make them an attractive, but elusive, subject for evolutionary and conservation study. Although once plentiful on the island of New Guinea (NG), they were presumed to currently exist only in captivity. This conclusion was based on the lack of sightings in the lowlands of the island and the concurrent expansion of European- and Asian-derived dogs. We have analyzed the first nuclear genomes from a canid population discovered during a recent expedition to the highlands of NG. The extreme altitude (>4,000 m) of the highland wild dogs' (HWD) observed range and confirmed vocalizations indicate their potential to be a wild NGSD population. Comparison of single-nucleotide polymorphism genotypes shows strong similarity between HWD and the homogeneous captive NGSD, with the HWD showing significantly higher genetic diversity. Admixture analyses and estimation of shared haplotypes with phylogenetically diverse populations also indicates the HWD is a novel population within the distinct evolutionary lineage of Oceanic canids. Taken together, these data indicate the HWD possesses a distinct potential to aid in the conservation of NGSD both in the wild and under human care.
Project description:Using WGBS we investigated blood DNA methylation profiles of Cooinda the Alpine dingo and determined putative regulatory elements (unmethylated regions, UMRs, and lowly methylated regions, LMRs).
Project description:Using WGBS we investigated blood DNA methylation profiles of Canis lupus dingo and determined putative regulatory elements (unmethlated regions (UMRs) and lowly methylated regions (LMRs).
Project description:We queried a songbird brain to discover behaviorally regulated transcriptional mechanisms relevant for speech behavior. About 10% of zebra finch genes showed regulation during singing, and most were brain-region specific. We propose that the brain-regional diversity of the singing-regulated gene networks is derived both from differential combinatorial binding of transcription factors and the epigenetic state of these genes before singing begins. To test this hypothesis, we measured H3K27ac two brain regions that participate in song production.
Project description:We queried a songbird brain to discover behaviorally regulated transcriptional mechanisms relevant for speech behavior. About 10% of zebra finch genes showed regulation during singing, and most were brain-region specific. We propose that the brain-regional diversity of the singing-regulated gene networks is derived both from differential combinatorial binding of transcription factors and the epigenetic state of these genes before singing begins. To test this hypothesis, we measured H3K27ac two brain regions that participate in song production. The examination of H3K27ac in two brain regions of zebra finch in singing and silent conditions
Project description:Studies of transcriptional networks in multi-cellular organisms usually focus on isolated cells and typically assume that the discovered gene networks represent those present in connected cells within a complex organ like the brain. However, similar cell types connected in diverse anatomical networks could differentially influence transcriptional networks. Here, we used laser capture microdissection, expression arrays, genome mapping, and computational inference to explore behaviorally regulated gene networks in the brains of awake, behaving songbirds producing a skilled motor behavior, singing. We found that at baseline, in the absence of singing, a large proportion of genes (17%, >3000) are differentially expressed in the different brain regions of the neural circuit that controls singing. These genes predominantly code for cell communication and connectivity proteins, and non-coding RNAs. Remarkably, the act of singing was associated with differential regulation of ~10% of the coding and non-coding genome. However, less than 1% of genes were singing-regulated in most brain regions and these were largely immediate early genes (IEGs), which peaked early, including the inducible transcription factors EGR1 and FOS. The remaining vast majority of behaviorally regulated gene expression was specific to one or a subset of brain regions, which peaked later. Promoters of the baseline, common, and diverse singing regulated gene clusters were enriched for different combinations of post-translationally activated transcription factors, like CREB, SRF, MEF2, MZF, and the IEG transcription factors. The results suggest that diverse cell-to-cell interactions and differential combinatorial binding of a small group of transcription factors may influence regional diversity of gene networks in seemingly similar cell types. Thus, in highly integrated neural circuits of intact behaving animals, transcriptional network diversity appears to be the rule, rather than the exception. Gene expression in Area X, HVC, LMAN, and Ra was measured before singing (0) or after singing for 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7hours. Four-Six independent experiments were performed at each of the 9 timepoints.