Dissertation Research: Phylogenetic Inference from Bryozoan Hox Genes

论文研究：苔藓虫 Hox 基因的系统发育推断

• 批准号: 0104984
• 负责人: Timothy Shank
• 金额: $ 1万
• 依托单位: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2001
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2001-07-01 至 2003-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0104984&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Dissertation; Research; Phylogenetic; Inference; Bryozoan

This project will investigate the evolutionary origin of bryozoans, a group of aquatic animals with many species that form colonies by asexual reproduction. Although association of bryozoans with molluscs, annelids, and other protostome taxa is well supported, relationships among these groups is not. Data suggesting that bryozoans diverged from a common ancestor before other members of the clade Lophotrochozoa is, however, intriguing and warrants further investigation. The present study will investigate Hox genes, which are important transcription factors in early development. The DNA sequence of Hox genes, as well as their arrangement within the genome, has been conserved over the course of animal evolution, making them good candidates for understanding relationships between widely divergent groups of animals. DNA sequencing and gene mapping will be utilized to investigate the Hox genes of representatives from two major lineages of bryozoans, cheilostomes and phylactolaemates. These data will be combined with other information to infer the relationships between bryozoans and other major lineages of animals.Results of this study will provide important information concerning the early evolution of animal development and body plans. Additionally, the sequencing and mapping of bryozoan Hox genes will provide a platform for future work on the origins of zooid polymorphism in bryozoan colonies.

这个项目将调查苔藓虫的进化起源，苔藓虫是一组水生动物，有许多物种通过无性繁殖形成群体。 虽然苔藓虫与软体动物，环节动物和其他原口动物类群之间的关系得到了很好的支持，这些群体之间的关系没有。 数据表明，苔藓虫分化从一个共同的祖先之前，其他成员的分支Lophotrochozoa是有趣的，但是，值得进一步调查。 Hox基因是早期发育过程中重要的转录因子，本研究对Hox基因进行了研究。 Hox基因的DNA序列以及它们在基因组中的排列在动物进化过程中一直是保守的，这使得它们成为理解广泛不同的动物群体之间关系的良好候选者。 DNA测序和基因定位将被用来调查的Hox基因的代表，从两个主要的苔藓虫，唇口类和phylactolaemates谱系。 这些数据将结合其他信息来推断苔藓虫与其他主要动物谱系之间的关系，这一研究结果将为动物早期发育和体型的进化提供重要信息。 此外，苔藓虫Hox基因的测序和定位将为未来苔藓虫种群中的动物体多态性起源提供一个平台。