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WORKSHOPS AT THE CoE ANNUAL MEETING 2013
FROM GENETICS TO BEHAVIOR – BRIDGING TWO DISCIPLINES IN MICROBIAL EVOLUTION (the
workshop organisers: Nadine Fornelos & Lotta-Riina Sundberg)
Microbes adapt rapidly to changing environments. Whereas eco-evolutionary studies look at the
reasons driving the changes and the physiological alterations themselves, molecular microbiology
is interested in finding out the genetic mechanisms driving those changes through genome
sequence, gene expression and proteomic analyses. The lack of knowledge regarding gene
function and associated regulatory mechanisms is generally accepted to be a tremendous
impediment to the understanding of ecology, evolution and developmental biology. With the
current wealth of genomic information and analytic tools that are available, efficient ways of
joining both disciplines together are encouraged and progressively emerging.
In this workshop, we will discuss how eco-evolutionary and molecular microbiology perspectives
address evolutionary questions by discussing selected scientific papers that best illustrate the
association of both disciplines. The aim is to reflect on the many different aspects that need to be
considered when interpreting evolutionary data and seeking the molecular mechanisms that are
at work. The participants are encouraged to discuss their own views and propose strategies for
addressing the subject, especially regarding the different types of study systems that would be
suited models.
PHENOTYPIC PLASTICITY (the workshop organisers: Tarmo Ketola & Carita Lindstedt-Kareksela)
The aim of the workshop is to discuss about phenotypic plasticity. The phenotypic plasticity (i.e.
individuals differ in their responses to different environments) is not just an appealing theoretical
and evolutionary issue, but it is clearly a phenomenon that unites perhaps all in biology, and have
far ranging implications in conservation biology and in commercial use of biota. The emphasis of
this work shop is to allow diversity of approaches to collide and stimulate discussion.
PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES TO INFECTIONS IN INSECTS (the workshop organiser: Dalial Freitak)
Insects have proved to be one of the most successful animal groups on earth, as they are present
in all the possible habitats in the world. Many of these are heavily loaded with parasites and
pathogens, and present many opportunities for infection. This has imposed enormous selection
pressures on defense systems, among them immune responses. Insects mount a complex
hierarchy of defenses that pathogens must overcome before successful infection is achieved.
Innate physiological immunity follows a series of pathways to kill and eliminate pathogens from
the insect’s hemocoel. To start with the insect must recognize potentially dangerous pathogens
and alert the immune system. Once this recognition is achieved, one or more of signaling
pathways are initiated. The humoral responses involve the production of antibiotics that can kill
the pathogen. Simultaneously, cellular responses could be initiated as well, here the hemocytes
aggregate around the pathogen, immobilizing and killing it. Finally, these two defense systems
often work synergistically to produce melanin, what is targeted against the extracellular
pathogens in the hemocoel. Defenses against intracellular pathogens are less well studied,
although it appears that similar signaling systems are involved in at least triggering the
intracellular responses (which involve antimicrobial molecules and RNA interference).
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We will discuss shortly different pathogens infecting insect hosts and the responses they are
known to trigger. Also I will give short overview of the most common methods to study the
immune responses in insect-pathogen system.
POPULATION GENETICS ON NON-CONFORMIST DATA (the workshop organiser: Helena
Johansson)
Molecular population genetic data from many organisms preclude the use of summary statistics in
population genetic analyses, because they violate the Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium (HWE), or show
linkage disequilibrium (LD). Recent possibilities to generate large data sets of molecular markers
(e.g. several 100 microsatellites, or RADseq) to investigate spatial population genetics calls for
analyses that can be performed relatively rapidly on a large number of markers (which often
violate HWE or LD). This workshop intends to give an overview to types of spatial data analysis
that are possible with non-conformist data as well as larger-scale genomics data. These include
principal component analysis, discriminant analysis on principal components, network analysis,
Bayesian analysis, outlier and FST analyses. If you are interested in participating in the workshop
please send me a short e-mail ([email protected]) and tell me on which organism you
work, if you already have a data set ready to analyse and if there are particular topics you would
like to see covered in the workshop.
SEXUAL SELECTION WORKSHOP (the workshop organisers: Swanne Gordon & Rémi Charge)
Sexual selection has been shown to be an important driver in the evolution of a wide variety of
complex life history, morphological, and behavioural traits. This can stem from direct or indirect
selection on particular traits through intra-gender competition, intersexual mate choice, or
conflict.
In this workshop, we will explore the current (and future) state of theory and empirical research
on sexual selection through discussion of a broad range of key topics. An emphasis in the
workshop will also be to examine specific venues of collaboration in the COE between researchers
working on different organisms, but with potentially convergent topics (such as the development
of novel empirical and theoretical approaches to mating systems in social vs. non-social
organisms).
For a more interactive and relaxed atmosphere we will introduce some topics and stimulate
discussion. However, individuals are encouraged and welcome to introduce topics of their own
interests. Potential discussion topics include:
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Evaluating how a tradeoff between sexual and natural selection have played key roles in
the evolution and maintenance of particular features in organisms.
Describing the role of sexual selection in the rapid evolution of secondary sexual characters
and features therein (e.g. selection differentials/gradients, responses to selection, etc.)
Discussing how divergent sexual strategies help organisms improve fitness.
Evaluating the importance of genetic architecture in the evolution of sexually selected
traits.
Discussing how post-copulatory mechanisms differ between social and non-social
organisms (e.g. fertilization benefits models, cryptic female choice, etc.) especially when
females engage in multiple matings.
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SOCIAL IMMUNITY (the workshop organiser: Nick Bos)
Individuals belonging to organized eusocial insect colonies enjoy several key advantages over
solitary individuals. They are better able to forage for food and defend the nest, since as a group,
they can handle food objects or nest intruders that are too large for one worker to handle. Also,
the reproductive individual (the queen) is hidden in safety, only concerning herself with
reproduction, while the ‘expendable’ sterile workers conduct all risky tasks.
However, group living also has its disadvantages. As there are many ants, eggs, larvae and stored
food in a colony, it is a good target for predators and parasites. Additionally, workers are usually
highly related, facilitating the transfer of pathogens. To be able to maintain these valuable
resources, as well as preventing diseases from wiping out a colony, social insects have a myriad of
adaptations.
During this Social Immunity workshop, we can discuss about these adaptations, as well as new
idea’s and potential pitfalls. Furthermore we can also discuss projects related to immunity in nonsocial insects.
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