Objective A central goal in evolutionary biology is to understand the molecular changes responsible for phenotypic differences between species, in particular those that have arisen among mammals. Phenotypic evolution is thought to be largely founded on developmental gene regulatory changes, which determine species-specific tissue morphologies and thus lay the foundation for their typical physiological properties. We recently performed the first cross-mammalian transcriptome comparisons for adult organs, providing many insights into the molecular evolution of organ physiologies, but the evolution of developmental transcriptomes remains largely unstudied. I propose to generate comprehensive RNA sequencing data for a collection of adult tissues and developmental precursors from many mammals and tetrapod outgroup species (birds, reptiles, amphibians). The data will include dense ontogenetic time courses for key reference species, covering embryonic stages and, for mammals, placental tissues. We will identify coding and noncoding genes constituting core ancestral tissue transcriptomes and assess relative contributions of gene expression changes and the emergence of new genes to the evolution of phenotypically relevant expression patterns. We will also empirically evaluate global models of evolutionary conservation patterns during embryogenesis and placentation. To understand the dynamics of functional and regulatory interactions of different gene types and their evolutionary relevance, we will reconstruct evolutionary transcription networks and assess associated regulatory mechanisms. Overall, this inter-disciplinary “evo-devo” project will unveil ontogenetic and adult gene expression programs underlying shared (ancestral) and lineage-specific morphological and physiological phenotypes. It will thus substantially advance our understanding of the molecular basis of phenotypic evolution. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesevolutionary biologynatural sciencesbiological sciencesdevelopmental biologynatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsRNAnatural sciencesbiological scienceszoologymammalogynatural sciencesbiological sciencesmolecular biologymolecular evolution Programme(s) FP7-IDEAS-ERC - Specific programme: "Ideas" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) ERC-CG-2013-LS8 - ERC Consolidator Grant - Evolutionary, Population and Environmental Biology Call for proposal ERC-2013-CoG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-CG - ERC Consolidator Grants Host institution RUPRECHT-KARLS-UNIVERSITAET HEIDELBERG EU contribution € 1 535 488,00 Address SEMINARSTRASSE 2 69117 Heidelberg Germany See on map Region Baden-Württemberg Karlsruhe Heidelberg, Stadtkreis Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Principal investigator Henrik Kaessmann (Prof.) Administrative Contact Norbert Huber (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Beneficiaries (2) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all RUPRECHT-KARLS-UNIVERSITAET HEIDELBERG Germany EU contribution € 1 535 488,00 Address SEMINARSTRASSE 2 69117 Heidelberg See on map Region Baden-Württemberg Karlsruhe Heidelberg, Stadtkreis Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Principal investigator Henrik Kaessmann (Prof.) Administrative Contact Norbert Huber (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data UNIVERSITE DE LAUSANNE Participation ended Switzerland EU contribution € 463 144,00 Address Quartier Unil-Centre Bâtiment Unicentre 1015 Lausanne See on map Region Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera Région lémanique Vaud Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Nicole Vouilloz (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data