How genes influence how often chromosomes swap pieces during reproduction
Official title: The evolution and genetics of recombination rate variation
Funded at University of California Riverside · NIH-11373511 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant aims to understand why the rate at which chromosomes exchange pieces varies, using model organisms to uncover what affects this process and how it relates to human chromosomal disorders.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Riverside NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Riverside, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $370,380 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM154837-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11373511 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not a clinical trial; findings may ultimately inform people at risk for chromosomal disorders through future translation.
✕Less likely to help
Direct patient benefit is not part of this basic science grant.
What this research studies
Meiotic recombination shapes inheritance and evolution, and errors can lead to conditions like trisomy 21. Over five years, the project will use modern genomic tools in sticklebacks and fruit flies to study what controls recombination rate. It includes testing how structural variants influence genome-wide recombination in vertebrates and exploring evolutionary drivers in natural populations. The findings could illuminate why some individuals are at higher risk for chromosomal abnormalities and inform future research in human health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Improved understanding of chromosomal disorders could lead to better risk assessment and new avenues for preventing or mitigating related conditions.
How similar studies have gone: Past work in genetics and evolutionary biology has shown that recombination varies and can impact inheritance patterns; this project advances those lines of inquiry.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Riverside
Riverside, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Samuk, Kieran — University of California Riverside
- Study coordinator: Samuk, Kieran
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.