Dissertation Research: Phylogenetic and Molecular Evolutionary Studies of Chloroplast DNA Variation in the Campanulaceae

桔梗科是一个广泛分布的开花植物科 包含了许多重要的和有吸引力的园林植物。 确定该科内的系统发育关系， 由于依赖于形态特征， 它们经历了反复的趋同和平行进化。 该项目将使用叶绿体DNA数据生成第一个 现代家族的起源。 分子研究有两个 主要阶段：（1）确定和界定 叶绿体DNA结构重排分布 （倒位）及其可能的机制; 和2）对来自植物叶绿体DNA的ORFK进行测序， 科和相关分类群中的代表性物种。 从重排和序列数据生成的系统发育可以是 用于比较这两种方法产生的系统结果 不同类型的分子方法。 所得DNA 通过分析，将能够独立评估 形态学、化学和染色体进化 桔梗科 序列比较还将提供 关于叶绿体的相对速率和模式的信息 DNA进化

The Campanulaceae is a widely-distributed flowering plant family that contains many important and attractive garden ornamentals. Determination of phylogenetic relationships within the family has been problematical due to reliance on morphological characters that have undergone repeated convergent and parallel evolution. This project will use chloroplast DNA data to generate the first modern phylogeny of the family. The molecular research has two major phases: 1) characterization and delimitation of the distribution of chloroplast DNA structural rearrangements (inversions) throughout the family and their possible mechanisms; and, 2) sequencing ORFK from the chloroplast DNA of representative species in the family and related taxa. Phylogenies generated from rearrangement and sequence data can be used to compare systematic results generated from these two different types of molecular approaches. The resulting DNA phylogenies will enable an independent assessment of morphological, chemical, and chromosomal evolution in the Campanulaceae. Sequence comparisons will also provide information regarding relative rates and patterns of chloroplast DNA evolution.