Unraveling the Course of Angiosperm Chromosome Evolution

脊椎动物染色体上基因的沿着在经历了数亿年的分化后通常是保守的，但将拟南芥的序列与其他被子植物（开花植物）的部分基因顺序进行比较，却产生了相互矛盾的结果。这种差异可能在很大程度上是由于被子植物染色体复制和随后的“二倍体化”，进化机制与比较生物学的深远影响的倾向。 该项目将推进对被子植物进化约2亿年过程的了解，跟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将是重要的，通过提高植物多样性的基础知识，也在使用植物模型中的许多主要作物植物，有很大的基因组，难以研究，因此不太好的特点，在改善新兴的基因组信息。 关键的可交付成果包括有关基因库和排列的信息，这些信息为被子植物比较生物学增加了新的维度，并将以其他人易于使用的格式在网上提供。该项目提供预科和研究生两级的培训机会。研究和教育基础设施将通过基于网络的可交付成果的传播得到改善，这些成果对目前和未来的美国和国际倡议有价值。与UGA的NSF GK-12计划一起，该项目将开发和实施新的基于研究的教育材料，特别关注生物多样性。GK-12计划开发的材料将适合广泛传播，以直接或通过博物馆，自然中心和类似机构提高公众的科学理解。这项研究与强大的外展计划密切相关，该计划具有成功吸引代表性不足的群体的历史。

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.