REU: Gene Flow in Lake Erie Island and Mainland Snake Population

构成一个物种的个体在外观上从一个地方到另一个地方经常不同，但导致这种差异的过程往往很难识别。产生这种地理差异的过程包括与世隔绝或适应当地条件所带来的偶然事件。与这些过程相抗衡的是基因流动，即遗传物质从一个地方转移到另一个地方(例如，通过个人的移动)。不幸的是，很少有例子清楚地理解这些过程之间的相互作用。伊利湖西部的岛屿和大陆蛇种群提供了一个相对容易地研究基因流动重要性的环境。这些种群是不寻常的，因为它们表现出大量的颜色模式变化。对这种变异的不同解释在它们所需的基因流动量上有所不同。该项目旨在使用凝胶电泳法测量岛蛇和大陆蛇种群之间的基因流动速度，这是一种利用蛋白质结构的遗传差异来表征种群内和种群间差异的技术。结合关于当地适应和该地区地质历史的信息，该项目将提供引起地理变化的过程的异常详细的图景。

The individuals constituting a species frequently differ in appearance from one locality to another, but the processes which result in this variation are often difficult to recognize. Processes producing such geographic differentiation include chance events brought about by isolation or adaptation to local conditions. Countering these processes is gene flow, the transfer of genetic material from one location to another (e.g., via the movement of individuals). Unfortunately, few examples exist where the interplay among such processes is clearly understood. Island and mainland populations of snakes in western Lake Erie provide a situation where the importance of gene flow can be studied with relative ease. These populations are unusual because of the large amount of color pattern variation they exhibit. Alternative explanations for this variation differ in the amount of gene flow they require. This project aims to measure rates of gene flow among island and mainland snake populations using gel electrophoresis, a technique which makes use of genetically based differences in protein structure to characterize variation within and among populations. Coupled with information on local adaptation and on the geological history of the region, this project will provide an unusually detailed picture of the processes giving rise to geographic variation.