高山倭蛙发育生活史的高海拔适应性特征及其基因定位分析

The ability of organisms being adapted to plateau is the focus in evolutionary biology. Tibetan frog (Nanorana parkeri) is an amphibian that inhabited in the highest elevation region in the world. Therefore, it has been used as a model species in studies on the high elevation adaption. Surviving a long time in the highest altitude, this species has gotten some characteristics to cope with the harsh environment in life history. However, the genetic basis of these adaptive characteristics is unkown. In this study, we will observe on three life history traits: the development time, growth rate and body size variation in both embryonic and larval stage at different altitude. Then, we will map the cadidate genes on genome by QTL mapping. The results will answer two questions: (1) whether the life history traits during the embyonic stage and larval stage are different or not under various altitude environment? (2) where are the location sites of the gene controlling the life history phenotype in high altitude? Our study is the first step to explore the genetic architecture for this species who adapts to high altitude environment. In addtion, our study will provide novel method for adaptive evolutionary studies on plateau amphibians and reptiles.

生物对高原的适应是进化生物学的一个热点问题。高山倭蛙是世界上分布最高的蛙类，其生活史特征已产生显著的高原适应性，但这些适应性特征的遗传基础尚不清楚。本研究通过比较高山倭蛙胚胎期和蝌蚪期发育时间、生长率及身体大小的海拔变异，利用数量性状基因定位方法（QTL mapping）对不同环境下决定上述表型特征的基因进行定位。旨在回答两个科学问题：（1）高山倭蛙胚胎期和蝌蚪期的生活史特征如何适应海拔环境？（2）影响高海拔生活史特征的基因位于染色体（或连锁群）的什么位置？因此，本研究将首次从基因组水平探讨高山倭蛙适应高原高海拔环境的遗传机制，为探讨其它高原两栖爬行动物的适应进化机制提供新思路。

生物对高原的适应是进化生物学的一个热点问题。高山倭蛙是世界上分布最高的蛙类，其生活史特征已产生显著的高原适应性，但这些适应性特征的生理生化和分子基础尚不清楚。本研究通过比较高低海拔高山倭蛙种群的生活史特征（包括体长、体重、四肢长、完成变态历时、完成变态时身体大小）及与低氧适应相关的酶活性、相关基因的表达、端粒长短等指标，旨在回答三个科学问题：（1）高山倭蛙适应高原环境的生理生化机制是什么？（2）高山倭蛙适应高原环境的分子机制是什么？（3）氧气浓度对蝌蚪发育的影响如何？因此，本研究从生理、生化和分子角度，结合野外和室内实验揭示了该物种适应高原环境的机制，为探讨其它高原两栖爬行动物的适应进化机制提供新思路。