The genomic basis of adaptation in threespine stickleback fish

Evolutionary biology consists in the study of the evolutionary processes responsible of the diversification and adaptation of life forms over time. When adapting to a new environment (or changes in their local environment), populations have to adapt through natural selection. Until recently, the study of adaptation was focusing on fathoming the consequences of natural selection at the phenotypic level and how phenotypic evolution is linked to genetic changes. The development of new genetic and genomic tools in the last 20 years, like high-throughput sequencing technologies, now allows the construction of reference genomes in a variety of non-model organisms and the investigation of the genomic basis of adaptation. In my thesis, I investigated the genomic basis of adaptation by exploring the consequences of natural selection at the molecular level using the threespine stickleback fish (Gasterosteus acualeatus) as a model. In more detail, my work focused on three main topics: the genomic basis of parallel adaptation to acidic versus basic lochs of North Uist (Outer Hebrides, Scotland); the maintenance of standing genetic variation in Atlantic stickleback fish, and the characterization of reproductive isolation at the genomic level between parapatric stickleback populations of the Misty watershed (Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada)

Development of social and political ideas in Bengal, 1858-85.

The introduction of Western education stirred the minds of Bengali youths, and brought about an intellectual revival. They peered at one bound from orthodox Hinduism to atheism, drunkenness, beef-eating, and a blind love of all that came from the West. This violent movement was moderated by the influence of Christian missionaries and the Brehm Samaj. Some of these Indians became politically conscious, and founded the Bengal British India Society with the help of George Thompson, who had already formed n similar body in England. The society languished, and was absorbed by the British Indian Association, established by the Bengn1 landowners in 1851. This Association developed certain political ideas, and frequently petitioned Government, but, having failed to establish itself on an all-India basis, yielded ground to the rising middle classes, stirred by the ideas of Pill and the emotions of Massini. Meanwhile, anti-British sentiments were spreading. The indigo riots of 1860 rose from economic discontent, but helped to foment political unrest. In the sixties, Indian leaders were pursuing projects of both political and social reform. Put by the middle of the next decade the siruggle for social reform declined, the iden of Nationalism grew rapidly, and there arose the "totter-cult". Bankim wrote the ANANDA MATH, later on to become the gospel of Terrorism. The press became a powerful instrument of political propaganda, and was helped by the development of transport and communications. The Indian Association was formed by the middle classes to support representations to Government by agitation among .the people. The storms that raged over the Vernacular Press Act and the Ilbert Bill taught Indians the value of united and organised political action. In 1884 the forces were ripe for an all-India political movement, which found expression in the Indian National Congress