BEPOLGEN

"Behaviour, Pollutants and Genomics: exploring their interactions in a fish model"

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'Aquatic habitats are increasingly exposed to chemicals that, even at low levels, can disturb the endocrinology of organisms. These endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can have severe impacts on reproductive physiology, yet knowledge of their effects on evolutionary processes and population viability is fundamentally lacking. Using the invasive mosquitofish Gambusia holbrooki, the Fellow will use behavioural and genetic assays to reveal how EDCs impact reproductive success and sexual selection. This study will be the first to examine the effects of EDCs on both female and male reproductive behaviour and quality of offspring. Crucially, in a novel approach, cutting-edge, Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) will be used to explore EDC-induced changes in gene expression in the Central Nervous System. The Fellow will expose mosquitofish to 17α-ethynyl estradiol (EE2), a synthetic estrogen used in oral contraceptive pills, and experimentally determine how exposure affects fish reproductive behaviour, reproductive success and gene expression. The Fellow will establish transcriptomic profiles of the fish brain, ovary or testis with NGS and use digital transcriptomics to analyse the effects of EE2 exposure on gene expression. The identity and extent of change of the differentially expressed transcripts will be interpreted with respect to the observed behavioural changes. This study will deepen our knowledge on the genetics of how organisms adapt to human-induced environmental changes and provide evidence on how genome and environment interact.

The joint programme of research and training will allow the Fellow to use her existing expertise in behavioural ecotoxicology and critically to engage with new techniques. The programme will give the Fellow competencies in research-related activities and state-of-the-art NGS and bioinformatics that are essential to her in becoming an independent scientist able to command her own research funding and supervise a research team.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Aquatic habitats are exposed to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), which can affect the endocrine system of organisms, even at low levels. These chemicals can have a serious impact on reproduction, but their effect on evolutionary processes and population viability is not well understood.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

The 'Behaviour, pollutants and genomics: Exploring their interactions in a fish model' (BEPOLGEN) project is studying the effect of EDCs on the guppy (Poecilia reticulate). Researchers are using the model organism for behavioural and genetic assays to reveal how EDCs affect reproduction and sexual selection.

BEPOLGEN is one of the first studies to examine the impacts of EDCs on both male and female reproductive behaviour and quality of offspring.

Researchers used state-of-the-art next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology to investigate how EDCs alter gene expression. Guppies were exposed to synthetic oestrogen 17alpha-ethynyl estradiol (EE2), which is used in oral contraceptive pills. The purpose was to determine how it affects reproductive behaviour and reproductive success.

The project used NGS to determine transcriptomic profiles of the fish's brains and ovaries or testes. It also investigated the effects of exposure to EE2 on gene expression.

In addition, BEPOLGEN has examined the identity of and changes to expressed transcripts (sequences of RNA molecules produced by transcription). The aim is to determine if there is a link with observed behavioural changes.

Information gained from the study will enhance understanding of genetics, including how organisms adapt to environmental changes brought about by human activities. Therefore, the project outcomes will provide evidence of how the genome and environment interact.

This evidence will include identification of genes that differ in expression between males and females and changes in expression due to EE2. Furthermore, changes in gene expression due to EE2 exposure will be compared with its effects on sexual selection.

Potentially serious effects of EDCs on humans (such as decreasing sperm counts) and wildlife means their long-term effects must be studied in greater detail. As such, the knowledge gained from BEPOLGEN will help to ensure a safe and sustainable European environment.