Project acronym COSMOLAB
Project Laboratory simulation of cosmological magnetic fields
Researcher (PI) Gianluca Gregori
Host Institution (HI) THE CHANCELLOR, MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE2, ERC-2010-StG_20091028
Summary The advent of high-power laser systems in the past two decades has opened a new field of research where astrophysical environments can be scaled down to laboratory dimensions, yet preserving the essential physics. This is due to the invariance of the equations of ideal magneto-hydrodynamics (MHD) to a class of self-similar transformations. In this proposal, we will apply these scaling laws to investigate the dynamics of the high Mach number shocks arising during the formation of the large-scale structure of the Universe. Although at the beginning of cosmic evolution matter was nearly homogenously distributed, today, as a result of gravitational instability, it forms a web-like structure made of filaments and clusters. Gas continues to accrete supersonically onto these collapsed structures, thus producing high Mach number shocks. It has been recently proposed that generation of magnetic fields can occur at these cosmic shocks on a cosmologically fast timescale via a Weibel-like instability, thus providing an appealing explanation to the ubiquitous magnetization of the Universe. Our proposal will thus provide the first experimental evidence of such mechanisms. We plan to measure the self-generated magnetic fields from laboratory shock waves using a novel combination of electron deflectometry, Faraday rotation measurements using THz lasers, and dB/dt probes. The proposed investigation on the generation of magnetic fields at shocks via plasma instabilities bears important general consequences. First, it will shed light on the origin of cosmic magnetic fields. Second, it would have a tremendous impact on one of the greatest puzzles of high energy astrophysics, the origin of Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays. We plan to assess the role of charged particle acceleration via collisionless shocks in the amplification of the magnetic field as well as measure the spectrum of such accelerated particles. The experimental work will be carried both at Oxford U and at laser facilities.
Summary
The advent of high-power laser systems in the past two decades has opened a new field of research where astrophysical environments can be scaled down to laboratory dimensions, yet preserving the essential physics. This is due to the invariance of the equations of ideal magneto-hydrodynamics (MHD) to a class of self-similar transformations. In this proposal, we will apply these scaling laws to investigate the dynamics of the high Mach number shocks arising during the formation of the large-scale structure of the Universe. Although at the beginning of cosmic evolution matter was nearly homogenously distributed, today, as a result of gravitational instability, it forms a web-like structure made of filaments and clusters. Gas continues to accrete supersonically onto these collapsed structures, thus producing high Mach number shocks. It has been recently proposed that generation of magnetic fields can occur at these cosmic shocks on a cosmologically fast timescale via a Weibel-like instability, thus providing an appealing explanation to the ubiquitous magnetization of the Universe. Our proposal will thus provide the first experimental evidence of such mechanisms. We plan to measure the self-generated magnetic fields from laboratory shock waves using a novel combination of electron deflectometry, Faraday rotation measurements using THz lasers, and dB/dt probes. The proposed investigation on the generation of magnetic fields at shocks via plasma instabilities bears important general consequences. First, it will shed light on the origin of cosmic magnetic fields. Second, it would have a tremendous impact on one of the greatest puzzles of high energy astrophysics, the origin of Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays. We plan to assess the role of charged particle acceleration via collisionless shocks in the amplification of the magnetic field as well as measure the spectrum of such accelerated particles. The experimental work will be carried both at Oxford U and at laser facilities.
Max ERC Funding
1 119 690 €
Duration
Start date: 2010-12-01, End date: 2015-11-30
Project acronym CosTesGrav
Project Cosmological Tests of Gravity
Researcher (PI) Kazuya Koyama
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSITY OF PORTSMOUTH HIGHER EDUCATION CORPORATION
Call Details Consolidator Grant (CoG), PE9, ERC-2014-CoG
Summary Einstein’s theory of General Relativity (GR) is tested accurately within the local universe i.e., the solar system, but this leaves open the possibility that it is not a good description at the largest scales in the Universe. The standard model of cosmology assumes GR as a theory to describe gravity on all scales. In 1998, astronomers made a surprising discovery that the expansion of the Universe is accelerating, not slowing down. This late-time acceleration of the Universe has become the most challenging problem in theoretical physics. Within the framework of GR, the acceleration would originate from an unknown “dark energy.” Alternatively, it could be that there is no dark energy and GR itself is in error on cosmological scales. The standard model of cosmology is based on a huge extrapolation of our limited knowledge of gravity. This discovery of the late time acceleration of the Universe may require us to revise the theory of gravity and the standard model of cosmology based on GR.
The main objective of my project is to develop cosmological tests of gravity and seek solutions to the origin of the observed accelerated expansion of the Universe by challenging conventional GR. Upcoming surveys will make cosmological tests of gravity a reality in the next five years. There are remaining issues in developing theoretical frameworks for probing gravitational physics on cosmological scales. We construct modified gravity theories as an alternative to dark energy and analyse “screening mechanisms” to restore GR on scales where it is well tested. We then develop better theoretical frameworks to perform cosmological tests of gravity that include non-linear scales by exploiting our theoretical knowledge of the models and our state-of-the-art simulations.
This grant will exploit and develop the world-leading position of the group initiated by Kazuya Koyama at the University of Portsmouth funded by the ERC starting grant (2008-2013).
Summary
Einstein’s theory of General Relativity (GR) is tested accurately within the local universe i.e., the solar system, but this leaves open the possibility that it is not a good description at the largest scales in the Universe. The standard model of cosmology assumes GR as a theory to describe gravity on all scales. In 1998, astronomers made a surprising discovery that the expansion of the Universe is accelerating, not slowing down. This late-time acceleration of the Universe has become the most challenging problem in theoretical physics. Within the framework of GR, the acceleration would originate from an unknown “dark energy.” Alternatively, it could be that there is no dark energy and GR itself is in error on cosmological scales. The standard model of cosmology is based on a huge extrapolation of our limited knowledge of gravity. This discovery of the late time acceleration of the Universe may require us to revise the theory of gravity and the standard model of cosmology based on GR.
The main objective of my project is to develop cosmological tests of gravity and seek solutions to the origin of the observed accelerated expansion of the Universe by challenging conventional GR. Upcoming surveys will make cosmological tests of gravity a reality in the next five years. There are remaining issues in developing theoretical frameworks for probing gravitational physics on cosmological scales. We construct modified gravity theories as an alternative to dark energy and analyse “screening mechanisms” to restore GR on scales where it is well tested. We then develop better theoretical frameworks to perform cosmological tests of gravity that include non-linear scales by exploiting our theoretical knowledge of the models and our state-of-the-art simulations.
This grant will exploit and develop the world-leading position of the group initiated by Kazuya Koyama at the University of Portsmouth funded by the ERC starting grant (2008-2013).
Max ERC Funding
1 701 133 €
Duration
Start date: 2015-09-01, End date: 2020-08-31
Project acronym CRIPTO
Project CRIPTO: Cryptography Research Involving Practical and Theoretical Outlooks
Researcher (PI) Nigel Smart
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), PE6, ERC-2010-AdG_20100224
Summary In this project I will investigate four interrelated topics in cryptography from both a theoretical and practical perspective. Each topic is chosen such that it not only provides a testing ground for more general ideas, but it also is grounded in specific examples which can help guide the general principles. Each topic has the potential to make dramatic advances, both on the subject of cryptography itself and how it is used and deployed in the real world.
We will be investigating application domains as diverse as cloud computing, electronic voting, protocols for trusted computing and privacy preserving methodologies. Each topic will be tackled however with common tools of provable security, and testing via implementation. In addition we aim to extend the tool box of techniques available to the cryptographer in terms of analysis and development methodologies, by being guided by the above application domains.
This research will have a transformative affect on the subject of cryptography and how it is deployed in the real world. We aim to demonstrate that previous “blue-skies” research can have direct practical benefit in applications, by researching in a pipeline of theory-to-practice. In addition we aim to feed back the practical knowledge learned into new theoretical models which capture more realistically the scenarios faced in practice, thus making the pipeline two-way.
Finally, the proposal builds on a wealth of knowledge and experience built up at Bristol over the last ten years in these explicit sub-areas. My group at Bristol is not only the best place to execute this ambitious programme of work, but, due to the unique combination of theoretical and practical perspectives we offer, possibly the only place capable of working on these interrelated fronts.
Summary
In this project I will investigate four interrelated topics in cryptography from both a theoretical and practical perspective. Each topic is chosen such that it not only provides a testing ground for more general ideas, but it also is grounded in specific examples which can help guide the general principles. Each topic has the potential to make dramatic advances, both on the subject of cryptography itself and how it is used and deployed in the real world.
We will be investigating application domains as diverse as cloud computing, electronic voting, protocols for trusted computing and privacy preserving methodologies. Each topic will be tackled however with common tools of provable security, and testing via implementation. In addition we aim to extend the tool box of techniques available to the cryptographer in terms of analysis and development methodologies, by being guided by the above application domains.
This research will have a transformative affect on the subject of cryptography and how it is deployed in the real world. We aim to demonstrate that previous “blue-skies” research can have direct practical benefit in applications, by researching in a pipeline of theory-to-practice. In addition we aim to feed back the practical knowledge learned into new theoretical models which capture more realistically the scenarios faced in practice, thus making the pipeline two-way.
Finally, the proposal builds on a wealth of knowledge and experience built up at Bristol over the last ten years in these explicit sub-areas. My group at Bristol is not only the best place to execute this ambitious programme of work, but, due to the unique combination of theoretical and practical perspectives we offer, possibly the only place capable of working on these interrelated fronts.
Max ERC Funding
2 102 041 €
Duration
Start date: 2011-10-01, End date: 2016-09-30
Project acronym CRIPTON
Project Role of ncRNAs in Chromatin and Transcription
Researcher (PI) Tony Kouzarides
Host Institution (HI) THE CHANCELLOR MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), LS1, ERC-2010-AdG_20100317
Summary The human genome is highly transcribed, with over 90% of sequences contributing to the production of RNA. The function of the vast majority of these RNAs is unknown. Evidence over many years has revealed that transcription factors and chromatin regulators are associated with a variety of non-coding (nc)RNAs, but their function remains largely unknown. There are a few cases where a role has been ascribed for ncRNAs in transcription, but no clear mechanistic insight has been defined yet. We predict that many of the newly identified ncRNAs emanating from the genome will play a role in transcriptional processes. We intend to identify and characterise such ncRNAs. This will take place in two phases. In the first phase we will use biochemical approaches to identify ncRNAs involved in the regulation of chromatin and transcription. Our investigations will focus on proteins leading to the induction of pluripotency and oncogenesis. ncRNAs associated with such proteins will be identified using targeted screens. In the second phase, the importance of these RNAs in determining pluripotency and oncogenesis will be analysed. In addition, a variety of molecular approaches will be used to investigate the mechanism by which these ncRNAs regulate the function of the proteins or complexes they associate with. One particular hypothesis we will explore is that such ncRNAs play a role in guiding proteins to DNA sequences, via the formation of RNA/DNA triplexes. This concerted and focused analysis will provide mechanistic insights into the functions of ncRNAs in transcriptional regulation and validate their role in key biological processes. The identification of such new ncRNA-regulated pathways may open up new avenues for therapeutic intervention.
Summary
The human genome is highly transcribed, with over 90% of sequences contributing to the production of RNA. The function of the vast majority of these RNAs is unknown. Evidence over many years has revealed that transcription factors and chromatin regulators are associated with a variety of non-coding (nc)RNAs, but their function remains largely unknown. There are a few cases where a role has been ascribed for ncRNAs in transcription, but no clear mechanistic insight has been defined yet. We predict that many of the newly identified ncRNAs emanating from the genome will play a role in transcriptional processes. We intend to identify and characterise such ncRNAs. This will take place in two phases. In the first phase we will use biochemical approaches to identify ncRNAs involved in the regulation of chromatin and transcription. Our investigations will focus on proteins leading to the induction of pluripotency and oncogenesis. ncRNAs associated with such proteins will be identified using targeted screens. In the second phase, the importance of these RNAs in determining pluripotency and oncogenesis will be analysed. In addition, a variety of molecular approaches will be used to investigate the mechanism by which these ncRNAs regulate the function of the proteins or complexes they associate with. One particular hypothesis we will explore is that such ncRNAs play a role in guiding proteins to DNA sequences, via the formation of RNA/DNA triplexes. This concerted and focused analysis will provide mechanistic insights into the functions of ncRNAs in transcriptional regulation and validate their role in key biological processes. The identification of such new ncRNA-regulated pathways may open up new avenues for therapeutic intervention.
Max ERC Funding
2 141 470 €
Duration
Start date: 2011-05-01, End date: 2017-04-30
Project acronym CRITMAG
Project Critical Behaviour in Magmatic Systems
Researcher (PI) Jonathan David Blundy
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), PE10, ERC-2009-AdG
Summary Crustal magmatism is periodic on a very wide range of timescales from pulses of continental crustal growth, through formation of granite batholiths, to eruptions from individual volcanic centres. The cause of this periodicity is not understood. I aim to address this long-standing geological problem through a combination of experiments, petrological methods and numerical models via a novel proposal that periodicity arises because of the highly non-linear ( critical ) behaviour of magma crystallinity with temperature in a series of linked crustal magma reservoirs. The ultimate objective is to answer five fundamental questions: " Why is crustal magmatism episodic? " How are large batholiths formed of rather similar magmas over long periods of time? " How do large bodies of eruptible magma develop that can lead to huge, caldera-forming eruptions? " What controls the chemistry of crustal magmas? Why are some compositions over-represented relative to others? " What is the thermal structure beneath volcanic arcs and how does it evolve with time? The project will address these questions through case studies of three contrasted active volcanoes: Nevado de Toluca, Mexico; Soufriere St Vincent, Lesser Antilles; and Mount Pinatubo, Philippines. For each volcano I will use experimental petrology to constrain the phase relations of the most recently erupted magma as a function of pressure, temperature, volatile content and oxygen fugacity in the shallow, sub-volcanic storage region. I will also carry out high-pressure phase equilibria on coeval Mg-rich basaltic rocks from each area with the aim of constraining the lower crustal conditions under which the shallow magmas were generated and use diffusion chronometry to constrain the frequency of magmatic pulses in the sub-volcanic reservoirs. The project will result in a quantum leap forwards in how experimental and observational petrology can be used to understand magmatic behaviour beneath hazardous volcanoes
Summary
Crustal magmatism is periodic on a very wide range of timescales from pulses of continental crustal growth, through formation of granite batholiths, to eruptions from individual volcanic centres. The cause of this periodicity is not understood. I aim to address this long-standing geological problem through a combination of experiments, petrological methods and numerical models via a novel proposal that periodicity arises because of the highly non-linear ( critical ) behaviour of magma crystallinity with temperature in a series of linked crustal magma reservoirs. The ultimate objective is to answer five fundamental questions: " Why is crustal magmatism episodic? " How are large batholiths formed of rather similar magmas over long periods of time? " How do large bodies of eruptible magma develop that can lead to huge, caldera-forming eruptions? " What controls the chemistry of crustal magmas? Why are some compositions over-represented relative to others? " What is the thermal structure beneath volcanic arcs and how does it evolve with time? The project will address these questions through case studies of three contrasted active volcanoes: Nevado de Toluca, Mexico; Soufriere St Vincent, Lesser Antilles; and Mount Pinatubo, Philippines. For each volcano I will use experimental petrology to constrain the phase relations of the most recently erupted magma as a function of pressure, temperature, volatile content and oxygen fugacity in the shallow, sub-volcanic storage region. I will also carry out high-pressure phase equilibria on coeval Mg-rich basaltic rocks from each area with the aim of constraining the lower crustal conditions under which the shallow magmas were generated and use diffusion chronometry to constrain the frequency of magmatic pulses in the sub-volcanic reservoirs. The project will result in a quantum leap forwards in how experimental and observational petrology can be used to understand magmatic behaviour beneath hazardous volcanoes
Max ERC Funding
2 959 518 €
Duration
Start date: 2010-04-01, End date: 2015-03-31
Project acronym CROSSROADS
Project Crossroads of empires: archaeology, material culture and socio-political relationships in West Africa
Researcher (PI) Anne Claire Haour
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSITY OF EAST ANGLIA
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), SH6, ERC-2010-StG_20091209
Summary Knowledge of the last 1000 years in the West African Sahel comes largely from historical sources, which say that many regions were ruled by vast polities.
The aim of my archaeological project is to seize how, in fact, lhe 'empires' of this region structured the landscape, and the movemenl of peoples, ideas, and
things, with a focus on the period AD 1200-1850. Is 'empire' really a useful term? I will confront historical evidence with archaeological data from one area at
the intersection of several polities: the dallols in Niger. This area is rich in remains, said to result from population movements and processes of religious and
political change, but these remains have been only briefly described so far. As this region is a key area of migrations and cross-influences, it is the ideal
'laboratory' for exploring the materialisation of contacts and boundaries, through a mapping of material culture distributions.
My project will approach these sites holistically, carrying out archaeological regional survey and prospection. Excavation will indicate chronology and cultural
affiliation. At lhe same time, I will take an interdisciplinary approach, using anthropological and oral-historical enquiries to obtain background information to
test hypotheses generated by the archaeological data. Enquiries will assess how material culture can show group belonging and population shifts, and
examine the role of individuals called 'technical specialists'. This will help solve the current impasse in our understanding of vast empires which, though they
are historically known, remain poorly understood.
My project will not just improve our knowledge of an almost-unknown part of the world, but thanks to its geographical location, interdisciplinary nature and
strong thematic framework, open up avenues of thinking about the relalion between archaeological and historical data, the mediation of relations through
artefacts, and the archaeology of empires, all widely-relevant research issues
Summary
Knowledge of the last 1000 years in the West African Sahel comes largely from historical sources, which say that many regions were ruled by vast polities.
The aim of my archaeological project is to seize how, in fact, lhe 'empires' of this region structured the landscape, and the movemenl of peoples, ideas, and
things, with a focus on the period AD 1200-1850. Is 'empire' really a useful term? I will confront historical evidence with archaeological data from one area at
the intersection of several polities: the dallols in Niger. This area is rich in remains, said to result from population movements and processes of religious and
political change, but these remains have been only briefly described so far. As this region is a key area of migrations and cross-influences, it is the ideal
'laboratory' for exploring the materialisation of contacts and boundaries, through a mapping of material culture distributions.
My project will approach these sites holistically, carrying out archaeological regional survey and prospection. Excavation will indicate chronology and cultural
affiliation. At lhe same time, I will take an interdisciplinary approach, using anthropological and oral-historical enquiries to obtain background information to
test hypotheses generated by the archaeological data. Enquiries will assess how material culture can show group belonging and population shifts, and
examine the role of individuals called 'technical specialists'. This will help solve the current impasse in our understanding of vast empires which, though they
are historically known, remain poorly understood.
My project will not just improve our knowledge of an almost-unknown part of the world, but thanks to its geographical location, interdisciplinary nature and
strong thematic framework, open up avenues of thinking about the relalion between archaeological and historical data, the mediation of relations through
artefacts, and the archaeology of empires, all widely-relevant research issues
Max ERC Funding
893 161 €
Duration
Start date: 2011-01-01, End date: 2015-12-31
Project acronym CRYOMAT
Project Antifreeze GlycoProtein Mimetic Polymers
Researcher (PI) Matthew Ian Gibson
Host Institution (HI) THE UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE5, ERC-2014-STG
Summary Fish living in polar oceans have evolved an elegant, macromolecular, solution to survive in sub-zero water: they secrete antifreeze (glyco)proteins (AFGPs) which have several ‘antifreeze’ effects, including ice recrystallization inhibition (IRI) - they slow the rate of ice crystal growth. Ice crystal growth is a major problem in settings as diverse as oil fields, wind turbines, road surfaces and frozen food. Analysis of the process of cryopreservation, whereby donor cells are frozen for later use, has revealed that ice recrystallization is a major contributor to cell death upon thawing. Enhanced cryopreservation methods are particularly needed for stem cell storage to maximize the use of this currently limited resource, but also to enable storage of clinically transfused cells such as platelets and red blood cells. AFGPs have thus far not found application in cryopreservation due to their low availability from natural sources, extremely challenging synthesis, indications of cytotoxicity, but more importantly they have a side effect of shaping ice crystals into needle-shapes which pierces cells’ membranes, killing them. The aim of this ambitious project is to take a multidisciplinary approach to develop synthetic polymers as tunable, scalable and accessible bio-mimetics of AFGPs, which specifically reproduce only the desirable IRI properties. Precision synthetic and biological methods will be applied to access both vinyl- and peptide- based materials with IRI activity. The bio-inspired approach taken here will include detailed biophysical analysis of the polymer-ice interactions and translation of this understanding to real cryopreservation scenarios using blood-borne cells and human stem cells. In summary, this ambitious project takes inspiration from Nature's defense mechanisms that have evolved to allow life to flourish in extreme environments and will employ modern polymer chemistry to apply it to a real clinical problem; cryopreservation.
Summary
Fish living in polar oceans have evolved an elegant, macromolecular, solution to survive in sub-zero water: they secrete antifreeze (glyco)proteins (AFGPs) which have several ‘antifreeze’ effects, including ice recrystallization inhibition (IRI) - they slow the rate of ice crystal growth. Ice crystal growth is a major problem in settings as diverse as oil fields, wind turbines, road surfaces and frozen food. Analysis of the process of cryopreservation, whereby donor cells are frozen for later use, has revealed that ice recrystallization is a major contributor to cell death upon thawing. Enhanced cryopreservation methods are particularly needed for stem cell storage to maximize the use of this currently limited resource, but also to enable storage of clinically transfused cells such as platelets and red blood cells. AFGPs have thus far not found application in cryopreservation due to their low availability from natural sources, extremely challenging synthesis, indications of cytotoxicity, but more importantly they have a side effect of shaping ice crystals into needle-shapes which pierces cells’ membranes, killing them. The aim of this ambitious project is to take a multidisciplinary approach to develop synthetic polymers as tunable, scalable and accessible bio-mimetics of AFGPs, which specifically reproduce only the desirable IRI properties. Precision synthetic and biological methods will be applied to access both vinyl- and peptide- based materials with IRI activity. The bio-inspired approach taken here will include detailed biophysical analysis of the polymer-ice interactions and translation of this understanding to real cryopreservation scenarios using blood-borne cells and human stem cells. In summary, this ambitious project takes inspiration from Nature's defense mechanisms that have evolved to allow life to flourish in extreme environments and will employ modern polymer chemistry to apply it to a real clinical problem; cryopreservation.
Max ERC Funding
1 496 439 €
Duration
Start date: 2015-06-01, End date: 2020-05-31
Project acronym CULTRWORLD
Project The evolution of cultural norms in real world settings
Researcher (PI) Ruth Helen Mace
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), SH4, ERC-2009-AdG
Summary An intense debate is raging within evolutionary anthropology as to whether the evolution of human behaviour is driven by selection pressure on the individual or on the group. Until recently there was consensus amongst evolutionary biologists and evolutionary anthropologists that natural selection caused behaviours to evolve that benefit the individual or close kin. However the idea that cultural behaviours that favour the group can evolve, even at the expense of individual well-being, is now being supported by some evolutionary anthropologists and economists. Models of cultural group selection rely on patterns of cultural transmission that maintain differences between cultural groups, because either decisions are based on what most others in the group do, or non-conformists are punished in some way. If such biased transmission occurs, then humans may be following a unique evolutionary trajectory towards extreme sociality; such models potentially explain behaviours such as altruism towards non-relatives or limiting your reproductive rate. However, relevant empirical evidence from real world populations, concerning behaviour that potentially influences reproductive success, is almost entirely lacking. The projects proposed here are designed to help fill that gap. In micro-evolutionary studies we will seek evidence for the patterns cultural transmission or social learning that enable cultural group selection to act, and ask how these processes depend on properties of the community, and thus how robust are they to the demographic and societal changes that accompany modernisation. These include studies of the spread of modern contraception through communities; and studies of punishment of selfish players in economic games. In macro-evolutionary studies, we will use phylogenetic cross-cultural comparative methods to show how different cultural traits change over the long term, and ask whether social or ecological variables are driving that cultural change.
Summary
An intense debate is raging within evolutionary anthropology as to whether the evolution of human behaviour is driven by selection pressure on the individual or on the group. Until recently there was consensus amongst evolutionary biologists and evolutionary anthropologists that natural selection caused behaviours to evolve that benefit the individual or close kin. However the idea that cultural behaviours that favour the group can evolve, even at the expense of individual well-being, is now being supported by some evolutionary anthropologists and economists. Models of cultural group selection rely on patterns of cultural transmission that maintain differences between cultural groups, because either decisions are based on what most others in the group do, or non-conformists are punished in some way. If such biased transmission occurs, then humans may be following a unique evolutionary trajectory towards extreme sociality; such models potentially explain behaviours such as altruism towards non-relatives or limiting your reproductive rate. However, relevant empirical evidence from real world populations, concerning behaviour that potentially influences reproductive success, is almost entirely lacking. The projects proposed here are designed to help fill that gap. In micro-evolutionary studies we will seek evidence for the patterns cultural transmission or social learning that enable cultural group selection to act, and ask how these processes depend on properties of the community, and thus how robust are they to the demographic and societal changes that accompany modernisation. These include studies of the spread of modern contraception through communities; and studies of punishment of selfish players in economic games. In macro-evolutionary studies, we will use phylogenetic cross-cultural comparative methods to show how different cultural traits change over the long term, and ask whether social or ecological variables are driving that cultural change.
Max ERC Funding
1 801 978 €
Duration
Start date: 2010-05-01, End date: 2016-04-30
Project acronym DARCGENS
Project Derived and Ancestral RNAs: Comparative Genomics and Evolution of ncRNAs
Researcher (PI) Christopher Paul Ponting
Host Institution (HI) THE CHANCELLOR, MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), LS2, ERC-2009-AdG
Summary Much light has been shed on the number, mechanisms and functions of protein-coding genes in the human genome. In comparison, we know almost nothing about the origins and mechanisms of the functional dark matter , including sequence that is transcribed outside of protein-coding gene loci. This interdisciplinary proposal will capitalize on new theoretical and experimental opportunities to establish the extent by which long non-coding RNAs contribute to mammalian and fruit fly biology. Since 2001, the Ponting group has pioneered the comparative analysis of protein-coding genes across the amniotes and Drosophilids within many international genome sequencing consortia. This Advanced Grant will break new ground by applying these approaches to long intergenic non-coding RNA (lincRNA) genes from mammals to birds and to flies. The Grant will allow Ponting to free himself of the constraints normally associated with in silico analyses by analysing lincRNAs in vitro and in vivo. The integration of computational and experimental approaches for lincRNAs from across the metazoan tree provides a powerful new toolkit for elucidating the origins and biological roles of these enigmatic molecules. Catalogues of lincRNA loci will be built for human, mouse, fruit fly, zebrafinch, chicken and Aplysia by exploiting data from next-generation sequencing technologies. This will immediately provide a new perspective on how these loci arise, evolve and function, including whether their orthologues are apparent across diverse species. Using new evidence that lincRNA loci act in cis with neighbouring protein-coding loci, we will determine lincRNA mechanisms and will establish the consequences of lincRNA knock-down, knock-out and over-expression in mouse, chick and fruitfly.
Summary
Much light has been shed on the number, mechanisms and functions of protein-coding genes in the human genome. In comparison, we know almost nothing about the origins and mechanisms of the functional dark matter , including sequence that is transcribed outside of protein-coding gene loci. This interdisciplinary proposal will capitalize on new theoretical and experimental opportunities to establish the extent by which long non-coding RNAs contribute to mammalian and fruit fly biology. Since 2001, the Ponting group has pioneered the comparative analysis of protein-coding genes across the amniotes and Drosophilids within many international genome sequencing consortia. This Advanced Grant will break new ground by applying these approaches to long intergenic non-coding RNA (lincRNA) genes from mammals to birds and to flies. The Grant will allow Ponting to free himself of the constraints normally associated with in silico analyses by analysing lincRNAs in vitro and in vivo. The integration of computational and experimental approaches for lincRNAs from across the metazoan tree provides a powerful new toolkit for elucidating the origins and biological roles of these enigmatic molecules. Catalogues of lincRNA loci will be built for human, mouse, fruit fly, zebrafinch, chicken and Aplysia by exploiting data from next-generation sequencing technologies. This will immediately provide a new perspective on how these loci arise, evolve and function, including whether their orthologues are apparent across diverse species. Using new evidence that lincRNA loci act in cis with neighbouring protein-coding loci, we will determine lincRNA mechanisms and will establish the consequences of lincRNA knock-down, knock-out and over-expression in mouse, chick and fruitfly.
Max ERC Funding
2 400 000 €
Duration
Start date: 2010-05-01, End date: 2015-04-30
Project acronym DARKHORIZONS
Project Dark Matter and the Early Universe in the LHC Era
Researcher (PI) Malcolm Douglas Stephen Fairbairn
Host Institution (HI) KING'S COLLEGE LONDON
Call Details Consolidator Grant (CoG), PE2, ERC-2014-CoG
Summary The discovery of a Higgs like particle in its first science run shows that we are truly in the LHC era and when collisions resume we will learn more about the physics of the TeV scale.
There are two main areas at the interface of particle physics and cosmology that the LHC will shed light on - If dark matter is a thermal relic then we naturally expect new particle physics close to this TeV energy range. The LHC will also help us learn about the nature of the electroweak sector and its behaviour during the early Universe.
In this proposal we present a body of work which will combine information from the LHC with dark matter experiments and astronomical observations to understand both the nature of dark matter and the role of the Higgs sector in the first moments after the big bang.
We will investigate dark matter by developing a new categorisation of interactions between the dark sector and the standard model. This will enable us to perform detailed collider and direct detection phenomenology in a more comprehensive way than current approaches while avoiding the problems which occur when those methods breakdown. Different schemes for mitigating against the upcoming problem of the neutrino floor in direct detection experiments will also be investigated.
Many of the keys to understanding the particle nature of dark matter lie in astrophysics, and we will develop new techniques to understand the distribution of dark matter in the Universe, its behaviour and density in distant galaxies and its velocity dispersion in the Solar system, critical to predict event rates in detectors.
We will use LHC and CMB data to answer important questions - Can the electroweak phase transition be first order? What is the role of the Higgs field during inflation? Can we use the electroweak sector to infer information about physics at high energy scale or the nature of inflation?
The interdisciplinary experience of the PI will ensure the ambitious project is a success.
Summary
The discovery of a Higgs like particle in its first science run shows that we are truly in the LHC era and when collisions resume we will learn more about the physics of the TeV scale.
There are two main areas at the interface of particle physics and cosmology that the LHC will shed light on - If dark matter is a thermal relic then we naturally expect new particle physics close to this TeV energy range. The LHC will also help us learn about the nature of the electroweak sector and its behaviour during the early Universe.
In this proposal we present a body of work which will combine information from the LHC with dark matter experiments and astronomical observations to understand both the nature of dark matter and the role of the Higgs sector in the first moments after the big bang.
We will investigate dark matter by developing a new categorisation of interactions between the dark sector and the standard model. This will enable us to perform detailed collider and direct detection phenomenology in a more comprehensive way than current approaches while avoiding the problems which occur when those methods breakdown. Different schemes for mitigating against the upcoming problem of the neutrino floor in direct detection experiments will also be investigated.
Many of the keys to understanding the particle nature of dark matter lie in astrophysics, and we will develop new techniques to understand the distribution of dark matter in the Universe, its behaviour and density in distant galaxies and its velocity dispersion in the Solar system, critical to predict event rates in detectors.
We will use LHC and CMB data to answer important questions - Can the electroweak phase transition be first order? What is the role of the Higgs field during inflation? Can we use the electroweak sector to infer information about physics at high energy scale or the nature of inflation?
The interdisciplinary experience of the PI will ensure the ambitious project is a success.
Max ERC Funding
1 947 665 €
Duration
Start date: 2015-09-01, End date: 2020-08-31
