CAREER: Molecular Systematics of Ray-finned Fishes

射线鳍鱼类(放线蕨纲)是现存鱼类中最大的一类，有23,000多个物种。它们是所有脊椎动物类别中最成功的，也是了解脊椎动物进化辐射的关键组成部分。尽管缺乏关于所有主要鳍鱼类群之间关系的确凿假说，但通过对活的和化石的类群的形态特征的分支分析，在系统发育综合方面已经取得了很大进展。相比之下，主要鱼种的分子系统学研究没有跟上形态研究的步伐。该项目涉及为更高级别的系统学开发适当的分子标记并为至少150个具有代表性的鱼类分类群汇编候选核基因DNA序列的大型数据集的大规模努力。与此同时，还提出了另一种策略，通过这种策略，将对精心挑选的10条鱼类线粒体基因组进行测序，并与已公布的已包括鲨鱼、射线、肺鱼和其他放线蕨类的13个完整线粒体基因组的序列进行系统发育比较。这两种方法产生的数据将被用来研究主要的鳍鱼种群之间的系统发育关系，并增进我们对鱼类辐射的主要进化转变的理解。现有的形态信息将与新的分子数据结合起来进行分析。建议的研究应为今后鱼类系统发育研究建立一个完善的参考框架。该项目教育部分的目标是开发一个总体上以脊椎动物动物学和分子系统学为重点的系统学综合课程，以加强本科生和研究生对进化生物学的学习。将开发一门新的为期五周的动手实验室课程，内容是生态学和进化的分子技术。建议应用现有的和创新的教学资源，作为加强学生参与学习过程的一种手段。积极参加合作学习小组、探索和分析WWW资源以及对初级文献进行批判性评估是一些拟议的活动，以补充更多的传统教学实践。课程的网站是实现这些目标不可或缺的一部分。将始终强调积极研究和学习过程之间的紧密关系，稳步寻求有希望的答案，而不是最终的真理。

9985045OrtiThe ray-finned fishes (Class Actinopterygii) comprise the largest group of living fishes, with more than 23,000 species. They are the most successful of all vertebrate classes and a key component to understanding the evolutionary radiation of vertebrates. Although a well-corroborated hypothesis of relationships among all major groups of ray-finned fishes is lacking, much progress towards a phylogenetic synthesis has been achieved by cladistic analysis of morphological characters of living and fossil taxa. In contrast, molecular systematic studies among major groups of ray-finned fishes have not kept pace with morphological studies. This project involves a large-scale effort to develop suitable molecular markers for higher-level systematics and to compile a large data set of DNA sequences for candidate nuclear genes, for at least 150 representative fish taxa. At the same time, an alternative strategy is also proposed whereby ten carefully selected fish mitochondrial genomes will be sequenced and phylogenetically compared to published sequences that already include 13 complete mitochondrial genomes of sharks and rays, lungfish, and other actinopterygians. The data generated by these two approaches will be used to study phylogenetic relationships among the major groups of ray-finned fishes and to improve our understanding of the major evolutionary transitions in the radiation of fishes. The existing morphological information will be brought together with the new molecular data for analysis. The research proposed should establish a sound framework of reference for future phylogenetic studies of fishes. The goal of the educational component of the project is to develop an integrated program in systematics in general with emphases in vertebrate zoology and molecular systematics, to enhance undergraduate and graduate learning of evolutionary biology. A new five-week, hands-on laboratory course on molecular techniques for ecology and evolution will be developed. Application of both established and innovative teaching resources are proposed as a means to enhance student involvement in the learning process. Active participation in cooperative learning groups, exploration and analysis of WWW resources, and critical evaluation of the primary literature are some of the proposed activities to complement more traditional teaching practices. Web sites for the courses are an integral part to achieving these goals. The tight relationship between active research and the learning process will be emphasized throughout, steadily pursuing promising answers rather than final truths.