DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Population Genetics of Caenorhabditis elegans

秀丽隐杆线虫向我们展示了一个进化之谜。它面积小，分布广，人口增长迅速。然而，与预期相反，遗传变异非常低。这项研究解决了这一悖论背后的原因。两个关键过程可能导致多态性的缺乏：群体结构和交配系统。利用微卫星和DNA序列数据，我们建议估计种群结构和基因流。连锁不平衡的衰减将被用来估计自交率。将使用在当地采集的种群以及公众可获得的菌株。分离C.从土壤中分离出的秀丽隐杆线虫的特征在于它与其他形态相似的物种相区别。我们开发了一种新的物种诊断技术，比传统方法更快。这种技术将大大增强C语言的吸引力。作为进化遗传学家的模式生物。该研究将有助于我们对C.目前，人们对它知之甚少。

The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans presents us with an evolutionary puzzle. It is small, widespread and capable of rapid population growth. Yet, contrary to expectations, genetic variation is very low. This research addresses the reasons behind this paradox. Two key processes might contribute to the lack of polymorphism: population structure and mating system. By employing microsatellite and DNA sequence data, we propose to estimate population structure and gene flow. Decay of linkage disequilibrium will be used to estimate selfing rates. Populations to be collected locally, as well as publicly available strains will be used. A major difficulty in isolating C. elegans from soil lies in distinguishing it from other morphologically similar species. We have developed a novel technique for species diagnosis, which is more rapid than conventional methods. This technique will vastly enhance the appeal of C. elegans as a model organism for evolutionary geneticists. The study will contribute a great deal to our understanding of the evolutionary history of C. elegans, about which very little is known presently.