COEVOL Multi-Scale Coevolution
Living systems are highly integrated, with a multitude of levels of organization, from molecular and intra-cellular scales to ecosystems. Complex organisms are themselves consortia of macro- and micro-organisms, which work together with their host to build the individual. Yet, each of these organisms can function and evolve in the short term according to its own logic, possibly in conflict with other higher or lower levels, or with other time scales. The once common idea among evolutionists that natural selection results in organisms perfectly adapted to their environment is now severely undermined. Not only because, as the Red Queen explains to Alice, one has to run relentlessly to keep its place in a changing environment, or because past evolutionary history and chance constrain the possibilities of present adaptation, but also because different levels of selection have interests that are generally difficult to reconcile.
Multi-scale coevolution resets classical questions in evolutionary biology
One example, of particular interest is the question of the source of heritable variations. The phenotype of organisms in a population is influenced not only by variations in their nuclear and mitochondrial genomes, the dynamics of which is the object of population genetics, but also more and more patently by the consortium of microbes and genetic elements that constitute its microbiome and virome. The hologenome designates this complex assembly of genetic materials, which obey different rules of transmission and different evolutionary strategies. The ability of symbionts to manipulate host phenotypes or to interfere with each other influences the evolutionary dynamics of all players in ways that are yet poorly understood. In addition, new questions arise, such as the importance of co-adaptation in these systems and their consequences in maintaining cohesive biological systems.
- Symbiosis: a response to and a source of divergent selection
Using a variety of approaches combining experimental evolution, genomic, functional, phenotypic and behavioral data, we aim to test whether symbiosis facilitates diversification and to characterize the underlying microevolutionary processes.
- Ecological networks of horizontal gene transfer
We develop original methods to detect gene transfer and we investigate the factors that influence the routes of gene transfers among microbes but also among insects.
- The interplay between symbiosis, infection and immunity and its evolutionary consequences
We try to understand the intimate interaction of hosts with pathogens, symbionts and transposable elements and how it affects the extended phenotype of the host.
- Transgenerational inheritance and environment changes
We try to decipher the molecular mechanisms that underlie rapid adaptation to environment and to test for transgenerational inheritance of fitness traits.
- Intragenomic conflicts and demography
We are developing models to test whether changes in the demography of the host affect the dynamics of transposable elements.
- The determinism of phenotypic convergence
We study the genomic basis of convergent phenotypic evolution in particular in the case of animals and plants adaptation to increasing temperature and decreasing water.
- Reconciling the tree of life
We develop phylogenetic methods for “reconciling” gene/species or host/symbiont histories and use these methods to explore the bulk of extinct or undescribed species and the history of association of symbiotic microbes with their hosts.
Integrating methods
The methods we use to tackle the questions raised by multi-scale co-evolution extend from theory, modelling and simulation to big data analysis, lab (notably on insects), and to a lesser extent, field activities.
Implication of research, responsibility of researchers and citizen sciences
From our research (some of which have immediate consequences in health, agriculture and ecology) and our concerns about the responsibility of scientists in society, we are committed to promote an “implicative” research. The implicative position means that we try to work on the link between science and society, not only through a one-way communication, applying or explaining our science, but also favoring early discussions on research projects, that may influence our research directions.
Publications
Display of 91 to 120 publications on 678 in total
Stress & Symbiosis: Heads or Tails?
Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution . : 1-9
Journal article
see the publicationY chromosome makes fruit flies die younger
Peer Community In Evolutionary Biology . : 100105
Other publication
see the publicationDGINN, an automated and highly-flexible pipeline for the detection of genetic innovations on protein-coding genes
Nucleic Acids Research . 48 ( 18 ) : e103-e103
DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa680
Journal article
see the publicationA behavior-manipulating virus relative as a source of adaptive genes for Drosophila parasitoids
Molecular Biology and Evolution . 37 ( 10 ) : 2791-2807
Journal article
see the publicationExperimental evolution of virulence and associated traits in a Drosophila melanogaster - Wolbachia symbiosis
Peer Community In Evolutionary Biology . : e9
DOI: 10.24072/pcjournal.9
Journal article
see the publicationA transposon story : from TE content to TE dynamic invasion of Drosophila genomes using the single-molecule sequencing technology from Oxford Nanopore
Cells . 9 ( 8 ) : 1776
DOI: 10.3390/cells9081776
Journal article
see the publicationViral infection impacts transposable element transcript amounts in Drosophila
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America . 117 ( 22 ) : 12249-12257
Journal article
see the publicationSyndrome de Klinefelter, rôle du chromosome Y dans l’espérance de vie humaine ?
Annales d'Endocrinologie . 81 ( 4 ) : 194
Conference paper
see the publicationWolbachia host shifts: routes, mechanisms, constraints and evolutionary consequences
Biological Reviews .
DOI: 10.1111/brv.12663
Journal article
see the publicationL’épistémologie des sciences biologiques et géologiques : une occasion d’enseigner l’incertitude ?
Raisons éducatives . N°24
Journal article
see the publicationGenome Evolution: Mutation Is the Main Driver of Genome Size in Prokaryotes
Current Biology - CB . 30 ( 19 ) : R1083-R1085
Journal article
see the publicationEvolutionary superscaffolding and chromosome anchoring to improve Anopheles genome assemblies
BMC Biology . 18 ( 1 ) : 1-20
Journal article
see the publicationDrosophila suzukii oxidative stress response involves Jheh gene cluster but not transposable elements
Preprint
see the publicationBiological Invasion: The Influence of the Hidden Side of the (Epi)Genome
Functional Ecology . 34 ( 2 ) : 385-400
Journal article
see the publicationChromosomal resolution reveals symbiotic virus colonization of parasitic wasp genomes
Preprint
see the publicationSome evolutionary insights into an accidental homing endonuclease passage from mitochondria to the nucleus
Peer Community In Evolutionary Biology . : 100101
Other publication
see the publicationSublethal effects from endosulfan on parasitization by the parasitoid wasp Leptopilina boulardi and specificity of nervous pathways involved
Pest Management Science . 75 ( 5 ) : 1411-1415
DOI: 10.1002/ps.5261
Journal article
see the publicationQuand les branches de l’arbre du vivant s’entremêlent
Pour la science .
DOI: 10.3917/pls.506.0056
Journal article
see the publicationGlobal survey of mobile DNA horizontal transfer in arthropods reveals Lepidoptera as a prime hotspot
PLoS Genetics . 15 ( 2 ) : e1007965
Journal article
see the publicationL'enseignement de l'évolution : redonner une place à l'épistémologie des sciences historiques
RDST - Recherches en didactique des sciences et des technologies .
Journal article
see the publicationZombi: A phylogenetic simulator of trees, genomes and sequences that accounts for dead lineages
Bioinformatics .
Journal article
see the publicationOn the Importance to Acknowledge Transposable Elements in Epigenomic Analyses
Genes . 10 ( 4 ) : 258
Journal article
see the publicationSymbiotic organs shaped by distinct modes of genome evolution in cephalopods
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America .
Journal article
see the publicationTracing Human Ancestral Migrations Using Symbiotic Bacteria
Groupe des Méthodes Pluridisciplinaires Contribuant à l'Archéologie (GMPCA) .
Conference paper
see the publicationDynamic Interactions Between the Genome and an Endogenous Retrovirus: Tirant in Drosophila simulans Wild-Type Strains
G3 . 9 ( 3 ) : 855-865
Journal article
see the publication(In)exhaustible Suppliers for Evolution? Epistatic Selection Tunes the Adaptive Potential of Nongenetic Inheritance
The American Naturalist . 194 ( 4 ) : 470-481
DOI: 10.1086/704772
Journal article
see the publication