Amount Awarded: $25,000
Sexual reproduction across eukaryotes depends on the specialized meiotic cell division program, in which diploid germ cells divide to produce haploid gametes. During meiotic prophase, homologous chromosomes find each other, align side-by-side, and exchange large segments of DNA through crossover recombination. This process of crossing-over, also known as genetic exchange, is essential for meiotic chromosome segregation, and also gives rise to genetic variation among offspring. In many species, the genome-wide frequency and distribution of crossovers are different between males and females, a phenomenon known as heterochiasmy. Despite extensive studies, this sexual dimorphism in meiotic recombination remains an enigma. To understand how these differences arise and evolve, we seek to identify regulatory mechanisms that differ between female and male meiosis, examine how they vary within a population, and determine to what extent this variation is driven by genetic factors. Atlantic salmon is a promising system to investigate this. Males and females show striking heterochiasmy, and meiotic cells from both sexes can be readily obtained and analyzed through cytological and genomic methods. In addition, large aquaculture datasets offer opportunities to study recombination variation at the population level. In this project, we will adapt well-established methods to investigate meiotic recombination in male and female Atlantic salmon. The results will contribute directly to our understanding of heterochiasmy and serve as a foundation for larger comparative studies.