Unraveling the Course of Angiosperm Chromosome Evolution

在脊椎动物中，染色体上的基因排列经过数亿年的分化后通常是保守的，但是将拟南芥序列与其他被子植物（开花植物）的部分基因序列进行比较，却产生了相互矛盾的结果。这种差异可能主要是由于被子植物染色体复制和随后的“二倍体化”的倾向，这是对比较生物学产生深远影响的进化机制。该项目将推进对被子植物约2亿年进化过程的了解，追踪有助于植物生物多样性的基因库和组织的变化。更好地了解被子植物复制的历史对于提高植物多样性的基础知识，以及利用植物学模型的新兴基因组信息来改进许多具有大基因组的主要作物植物具有重要意义，这些基因组难以研究，因此不太好表征。关键成果包括基因库和排列的信息，为被子植物的比较生物学增加了新的维度，并将以易于他人使用的格式在网上提供。该项目提供预科和研究生水平的培训机会。研究和教育基础设施将通过网络传播对现在和未来的美国和国际倡议有价值的可交付成果而得到改善。该项目将与佐治亚大学的NSF GK-12项目一起，开发和实施新的以研究为基础的教育材料，特别关注生物多样性。与GK-12计划一起开发的材料将适合广泛传播，以提高公众对科学的理解，直接或通过博物馆、自然中心和类似机构。这项研究与强大的外展项目密切相关，这些项目在吸引代表性不足的群体方面有着成功的历史。

Arrangements of genes along the chromosomes are often conserved after hundreds of millions of years of divergence in vertebrates, but comparisons of the Arabidopsis sequence to partial gene orders of other angiosperms (flowering plants) sharing more recent common ancestry have yielded conflicting results. This difference may be due largely to the propensity of angiosperms for chromosomal duplication and subsequent 'diploidization', evolutionary mechanisms with profound consequences for comparative biology. This project will advance knowledge of the ~200-million year course of angiosperm evolution, tracking changes in gene repertoire and organization that contribute to plant biodiversity. Better understanding of the history of angiosperm duplication will be of importance both by improving basic knowledge of botanical diversity, and also in using burgeoning genomic information from botanical models in the improvement of many leading crop plants that have large genomes which are difficult to study and therefore less-well characterized. Key deliverables include information about gene repertoire and arrangement that adds new dimensions to angiosperm comparative biology, and will be web-available in formats readily used by others. This project provides training opportunities at both pre- and postgraduate levels. The research and education infrastructure will be improved by Web-based dissemination of deliverables valuable to present and future US and international initiatives. Together with a NSF GK-12 program at UGA, this project will develop and implement new research-based educational materials, with specific focus on biodiversity. Materials developed with the GK-12 program will be suitable for broad dissemination to enhance scientific understanding by the public, directly and via museums, nature centers, and similar institutions. This research is closely tied to strong outreach programs with a successful history of engaging under-represented groups.