The Evolutionary Role of Epistasis for Fitness in Chamacrista Fasciculata

9312067芬斯特拟议研究的中心主题是确定导致常见原生豆科植物Partridge Pea种群之间遗传差异的基因作用类型。基因可能相互独立地发挥作用，因此遗传分化可能只是反映了人工或自然选择对单个基因作用的累积效应。然而，生物之间的重要差异很可能反映了对基因组合的选择。作用于基因组合的选择意味着基因互作或上位性是重要的。基因作用的类型可以通过跟踪亲本间杂交后代的存活和繁殖来确定，这些杂交亲本之间的距离越来越远。%本项目的结果以雀豆为模型系统，可能对包括进化、作物和动物育种以及保护生物学在内的许多不同学科具有重要意义。如果生物因为基因之间的相互作用而适应环境，那么我们的进化模型将需要更加复杂。此外，在基因相互作用发生的地方，不同的育种策略可能会对作物和动物的改良产生更大的效果。维持或保护濒危物种遗传多样性的策略也将受到基因相互作用是否决定与生存、繁殖或产量相关的特征的影响。

9312067 Fenster The central theme of the proposed research concerns determining the type of gene action which is responsible for genetic differences among populations of the common native legume, Partridge Pea. Genes may act independently of one another so that genetic divergence may simply reflect the accumulated effects of artificial or natural selection acting on single genes. However, it is just as likely that important differences among organisms may reflect selection on combinations of genes. Selection acting on combination of genes means that gene interaction or epistasis is important. The type of gene action can be determined by following the survivorship and reproduction of progeny derived from crosses between parents that are separated from one another by increasing distance.%%% Results from this project using Partridge Pea as a model system may have important implications for a number of different disciplines including evolution, crop and animal breeding, and conservation biology. If organisms are adapted to their environment because of interactions among genes, then our models of evolution will need to be more complex. In addition where gene interactions occur different breeding strategies than those presently employed may have greater efficacy for crop and animal improvement. Strategies for maintaining or preserving genetic diversity in endangered species will also be influenced by whether gene interaction determines traits associated with survivorship, reproduction, or yield.***