Uncovering the Genetic Secrets That Allow Tibetans to Thrive in Thin
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FALL 2010 | VOLUME 2 No. 2 | www.nescent.org Newsletter of the National Evolutionary Synthesis Center, an NSF-funded collaborative research center operated by Duke University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and North Carolina State University. NExT pROposal dEAdlines: research highlights dec. 1: postdoctoral fellowships, sabbaticals, meetings and working groups Uncovering the genetic Jan. 1: graduate fellowships, short-term visitors For more information, see page 2 or visit secrets that allow Tibetans nescent.org/science/proposals.php to thrive in thin air IN THIS ISSUE: Research Highlights 1,4,6 new study pinpoints the genetic Call for Proposals 2 Achanges that enable Tibetans to thrive Upcoming Events 2 at altitudes where others get sick. New Awards 3 A NESCent meeting led by Cynthia Publications 8 Beall and Peter Robbins has identified In the Media 8 a gene that allows Tibetans to live and work more than two miles above sea level without getting altitude sickness. Their re- ABOUT NESCENT: sults were published in June in the journal NESCent is a scientific research center Proceedings of the National Academy of dedicated to cross-disciplinary research in Sciences. evolution. The Center’s mission is to A previous study published May 13 in promote the synthesis of information, Science reported that Tibetans are geneti- concepts and knowledge to address cally adapted to high altitude. Less than a significant, emerging, or novel questions in month later, a second study by NESCent- evolutionary science and its applications. sponsored scientists from China, England, NESCent achieves this by supporting research and education across disciplinary, Ireland, and the United States pinpoints a institutional, geographic, and demographic particular site within the human genome — boundaries. a genetic variant linked to low hemoglobin in the blood — that helps explain how Ti- Funded by the National Science betans cope with low-oxygen conditions. Foundation (award #EF-0905606), The study sheds light on how Tibetans, A new study sheds light on how Tibetans, who NESCent is a collaborative partnership who have lived at extreme elevation for have lived at extreme elevation for more than between Duke University, the University more than 10,000 years, have evolved to 10,000 years, have evolved to differ from their low-altitude ancestorst. of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and differ from their low-altitude ancestors. North Carolina State University. For more Lower air pressure at altitude means information about research and training component of human blood. “That’s why fewer oxygen molecules for every lung- opportunities at NESCent, visit athletes like to train at altitude. They ful of air. “Altitude affects your thinking, www.nescent.org. increase their oxygen-carrying capacity,” your breathing, and your ability to sleep. said Beall. But high-altitude natives don’t have these SENIOR LEAdERSHIp: But too much hemoglobin can be a problems,” said co-author Cynthia Beall of bad thing. Excessive hemoglobin is the Allen Rodrigo, Director Case Western Reserve University. “They’re hallmark of chronic mountain sickness, an Susan Alberts, Associate Director able to live a healthy life, and they do it of Science and Synthesis overreaction to altitude characterized by completely comfortably,” she said. Todd Vision, Associate Director thick and viscous blood. Tibetans main- People who live or travel at high altitude of Informatics tain relatively low hemoglobin at high al- respond to the lack of oxygen by making Brian Wiegmann, Associate Director of Education and Outreach more hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying see AIR, p5 | FALL 2010 2 Upcoming events Molecular evolution symposium to be webcast live Date: November 5, 2010 Time: 2:00-6:00 PM EST f you’re interested in molecular evolution, Iyou may not want to miss this year’s Evolu- tion Symposium at the annual meeting of the National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT) on Friday, Nov. 5th. Thankfully, you won’t have to. Even if you can’t make it to this year’s meeting in Minneapolis, you can still watch the symposium via live webcast. This year’s symposium will feature four exciting speakers whose research in molecular evolution is revolutionizing our understanding of familiar and compelling examples of evolution. Learn about Butch Brodie’s research on the toxin arms race between newts and garter snakes, and Al- len Rodrigo’s insights on the practical and To watch the symposium, entitled research value of studies in viral evolution. “Molecular insights into classic examples Hear about Hopi Hoekstra’s research into of evolution,” tune in Friday, November fOR mORE INfORmation the underlying molecular mechanisms of 5th from 2:00-6:00 PM EST (1:00-5:00 PM Visit nescent.org/media/NABT- coat color in beach mice, and Sean Carroll’s CDT) and go to dukeuniversity.acrobat. Symposium2010.php work in drosophila wing coloration. com/nabt2010. call for proposals Call for proposals Looking for support for a sabbatical, graduate student, postdoc, or meeting? NESCent welcomes your proposals. We are looking to support innovative approaches to outstanding problems in evolutionary biology. In particular, proposals that have a clear interdisciplinary focus, or involve evolutionary concepts in non-traditional disciplines, are strongly encouraged, as are proposals that demonstrate international participation and a mix of senior and emerging researchers, Job Openings including graduate students. Interested in employment NESCent is now accepting applications opportunities at NESCent? Our Center for graduate, postdoctoral, and sabbatical runs with the help of a dynamic team fellowships, short-term visitors, and meetings. of programmers, financial experts, The next deadline for postdoctoral fellowships, event planners, and other specialists. sabbaticals, meetings and working groups is To find out about job openings as they Dec. 1. For graduate fellowships and short-term become available, visit nescent.org/ visitors, the next deadline is Jan. 10. about/employment.php For more information, visit nescent.org/science/proposals.php 2 | FALL 2010 3 call for entries new awards Congratulations to the newest award recipients for 2010 NESCent is pleased to announce the following new awards from Win a travel award our April and July 2010 call for proposals: for best evolution- themed blog Graduate Fellows Katharina Huber and Vincent moulton (University of East Anglia, UK) Bret moore (Purdue University) New applications of phylogenetic combina- Deadline: December 1, 2010 Do retinal specializations reflect ecology? torics An evolutionary perspective August 16-27, 2010 Are you a blogger who is interested in Luke mahler (Harvard University) evolution? The National Evolutionary Improving and testing ecological models of Roi dor (Cornell University) Synthesis Center is offering two travel phenotypic diversification Applying new phylogenetic comparative awards to attend ScienceOnline2011, a methods to analyze character evolution in swallows science communication conference to paul durst (Duke University) Evaluating patterns and trends in insular August 30 - September 5, 2010 be held January 13-15, 2011, in North body size evolution Carolina’s Research Triangle Park. matina Kalcounis-Rueppell (University of Sarah Seiter (UNC Chapel Hill) The awards offer the opportunity to North Carolina at Chapel Hill Distinguishing trait value and trait plasticity Potential for peripheral populations to travel to North Carolina to meet with in the evolution of reaction norms several hundred researchers, writers, mitigate core extinctions: Bats and white Nimrod Rubinstein (Tel-Aviv University) nose syndrome editors and educators to explore how Detection of clade-specific accelerations October 1 - December 31, 2010 online tools are changing the way and decelerations in gene evolutionary science is done and communicated to rates Katia Koelle (NESCent Triangle Scholar the public. Each winner will receive from Duke University) $750 to cover travel and lodging ShOrT-TErM ViSitorS October 1 - December 31, 2010 expenses to attend the conference. Luke mahler (Harvard University) For more information about Howard Ross (University of Auckland, New New tools for investigating replicated ScienceOnline2011, visit www. Zealand) adaptive radiation Species delimitation using networks scienceonline2010comindexphp- August 5-26, 2010 October 18-29, 2010 wiki/2011_program_Suggestions/ Samantha Hopkins (University of Oregon) For more information about the awardees To apply for an award, writers should and Samantha price (University of and their research projects, please visit submit a blog post that highlights California, Davis) nescent.org/science/awards.php current or emerging evolutionary Evolution of mammalian dietary strategies research. In order to be valid, posts and the importance of omnivory must deal with research appearing in August 14-27, 2010 the peer-reviewed literature within the last five years. Posts should be 500-1000 words, and must mention Math & Physics Chemistry the NESCent contest. Two recipients Medical Specialties will be chosen by a panel of judges from both NESCent and the science Social Sciences blogging community. Please send Electrical Engineering & Computer Science Biotechnology Brain Research your name, contact information, the Health Professionals title and date of your blog post, and a Chemical, Mechanical, Infectious Disease URL to [email protected]. & Civil Engineering Winners will be notified by December Humanities Earth