Molecular Systematics of Pinus

松树，松属的针叶树，是世界上 地理分布广，经济价值高的树种 位于北方。 尽管生物学的许多方面 松树是众所周知的，特别是与 林业，进化关系之间的ca。100种 松树以及与其他活针叶树和化石针叶树的关系， 仍然存在争议。 提高分类知识 亲缘关系可能有助于育种的改进 技术和森林资源管理，以及澄清 松树和相关针叶树的谱系。 利用现代分子生物学方法，包括新的 扩增靶DNA的聚合酶链式反应方法 俄勒冈州的史蒂文·施特劳斯博士 州立大学将研究所有的分类样本 松属的亚组，并确定一个进化 通过比较DNA的差异。 初步 施特劳斯博士实验室的结果证明了 的技术;数据承诺对 在进化分化过程中发生的基因组变化 松树的种类。 当与众所周知的 化石松树，分子的发现可能使校准的一个 这组裸子植物DNA变化的“分子钟”。

Pines, conifers of the genus Pinus, are among the most geographically widespread and most economically important trees of the northern hemisphere. Whereas many aspects of the biology of pines are well known, especially characteristics relevant to forestry, evolutionary relationships among the ca. 100 species of pines and relationships with other living and fossil conifers are still controversial. Improved taxonomic knowledge of phylogenetic affinities is likely to aid improvements in breeding techniques and management of forest resources, as well as clarify genealogical lineages among pines and related conifers. Using modern methods of molecular biology, including the new methods of polymerase-chain-reaction to amplify targeted DNA molecules for nucleotide sequencing, Dr. Steven Strauss of Oregon State University will study samples of all the taxonomic subsections of the genus Pinus and determine an evolutionary framework through comparisons of DNA differences. Preliminary results from Dr. Strauss's laboratory demonstrate the feasibility of the techniques; the data promise robust findings on the genomic changes that have occurred during evolutionary divergence of pine species. When correlated with the well-known record of fossil pines, the molecular findings may enable calibration of a "molecular clock" of DNA changes in this group of gymnosperms.