Chromosomal rearrangements and diversification: building a unified theoretical framework (CREADIV) – CREADIV

Chromosomal rearrangements have a major impact on genomes and can therefore strongly influence local adaptation and speciation that generate biodiversity. Thanks to recent technological advances, it is now possible to carry out genome-wide studies on natural populations of virtually any organism. Nevertheless, these studies will only inform us about the role of chromosomal rearrangements in biological diversification if we have a solid theoretical basis. Given that we have only recently come to appreciate the abundance of chromosomal rearrangements in genomes, we know little about how the interplay between several chromosomal rearrangements and genetic loci should contribute to diversification processes. The CREADIV project aims to fill this knowledge gap by building theoretical frameworks that take into account the evolution of both chromosomal rearrangements and genetic loci. With these theoretical frameworks, CREADIV will contribute to increasing our understanding of the impact on diversification of two important classes of chromosomal rearrangements, namely inversions and insertions induced by transposable elements. First, we will assess how the evolution of several overdominant inversions, as observed in nature, can impact local adaptation. Second, we will investigate to what extent insertions induced by transposable elements can favor local adaptation, as is often verbally asserted in the literature. Third, we will study how the interplay of several inversions and insertions induced by transposable elements can generate post-zygotic reproductive isolation and thus promote speciation. This project should provide the theoretical predictions needed to empirically assess the link between these chromosomal rearrangements and diversification.