CAREER: Molecular Systematics of Ray-finned Fishes

9985045Orti辐鳍鱼（Actinopterii类）是现存鱼类中最大的一组，有超过23，000种。它们是所有脊椎动物类别中最成功的，也是理解脊椎动物进化辐射的关键组成部分。虽然缺乏一个得到充分证实的假设，所有主要群体的鳍鱼之间的关系，已经取得了很大的进展，对系统发育的合成的形态特征的活的和化石类群的分支分析。与此相反，主要群体的鳍鱼的分子系统学研究没有跟上形态学研究的步伐。该项目涉及大规模的努力，为更高层次的系统学开发合适的分子标记，并为至少150个代表性鱼类分类群汇编候选核基因的DNA序列的大型数据集。与此同时，还提出了一种替代策略，即10个精心挑选的鱼类线粒体基因组将被测序，并与已发表的序列进行遗传学比较，这些序列已经包括鲨鱼和鳐，肺鱼和其他放线菌的13个完整的线粒体基因组。这两种方法所产生的数据将被用来研究的主要群体的辐鳍鱼类之间的系统发育关系，并提高我们的理解，在鱼类的辐射的主要进化转变。现有的形态学信息将与新的分子数据一起进行分析。该研究为今后鱼类系统发育研究提供了一个良好的参考框架。该项目的教育部分的目标是开发一个系统学的综合计划，重点是脊椎动物学和分子系统学，以加强本科生和研究生对进化生物学的学习。 将开发一个新的为期五周的关于生态学和进化的分子技术的动手实验室课程。既建立和创新的教学资源的应用，建议作为一种手段，以提高学生参与学习过程。 积极参与合作学习小组，探索和分析万维网资源，和主要文献的批判性评价是一些建议的活动，以补充更传统的教学实践。课程网址是实现这些目标的一个组成部分。 积极的研究和学习过程之间的紧密关系将始终强调，稳步追求有希望的答案，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.