Dissertation Research: Molecular Phylogenetic Analysis of the Major Lineages of Tapeworms (Platyhelminthes: Eucestoda)

小行星9701052 绦虫是专性扁形虫寄生虫，通常仅限于特定的宿主动物。 许多绦虫种类已经与它们的宿主长时间结合。 了解绦虫的系统发育史对生物学家来说意义重大，他们希望了解宿主和寄生虫物种共享历史的后果，并减少绦虫对人类和驯养动物的有害影响。 绦虫的系统发育历史很难重建，因为形态特征很少，难以解释，化石缺乏，分子特征的研究也没有进行。 在这项研究中，Janine Caira，Chris Simon和博士候选人Peter Olson将通过对绦虫的14个公认的主要类群（目）中的代表性物种的核编码18S样核糖体RNA基因进行测序来推断绦虫的系统发育历史，并对这些序列进行比较分析。 这项工作将提供一个基础，以检验假设的绦虫系统发育史的基础上形态，生态和其他类型的证据。 特别是，研究人员将确定是否绦虫放置在一个命令共享一个共同的历史（单系群）或没有。

9701052 CAIRA Tapeworms are obligate flatworm parasites that are often restricted to specific host animals. Many tapeworm species have been associated with their hosts for long periods of time. Understanding the phylogenetic history of tapeworms is significant to biologists, who wish to understand the consequences of shared history on host and parasite species, and to lessen the harmful effects of tapeworms on humans and domesticated animals. The phylogenetic history of tapeworms has been difficult to reconstruct, because morphological characters are few and difficult to interpret, fossils are absent, and investigations on molecular characters have not been conducted. In this research, Janine Caira, Chris Simon and doctoral candidate Peter Olson will infer the phylogenetic history of tapeworms by sequencing the nucleus-encoded 18S-like ribosomal RNA gene, from representative species in each of 14 recognized major groups (orders) of tapeworms, and conducting a comparative analysis of these sequences. The work will provide a foundation with which to test hypotheses of tapeworm phylogenetic history based on morphological, ecological, and other types of evidence. In particular, the researchers will determine whether the tapeworms placed within an order share a common history (are Omonophyletic groupsO) or not.