Unraveling the Course of Angiosperm Chromosome Evolution

在脊椎动物经历了数亿年的分化之后，染色体上的基因排列通常是保守的，但将拟南芥的序列与其他具有更近共同祖先的被子植物(开花植物)的部分基因序列进行比较，得到了相互矛盾的结果。这种差异可能在很大程度上是由于被子植物的染色体复制倾向和随后的“二倍化”，这些进化机制对比较生物学产生了深远的影响。该项目将促进对被子植物约2亿年进化过程的了解，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，既可以提高植物多样性的基本知识，也可以利用植物学模型中新兴的基因组信息来改良许多主要作物，这些植物具有难以研究的大基因组，因此特征较差。主要成果包括为被子植物比较生物学增加新维度的基因谱系和排列的信息，并将以其他人容易使用的格式在网上获得。该项目提供预科和研究生两个级别的培训机会。研究和教育基础设施将通过基于网络的对当前和未来的美国和国际倡议有价值的交付成果的传播而得到改善。与UGA的NSF GK-12项目一起，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。利用GK-12计划开发的材料将适合广泛传播，以增进公众的科学理解，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，这些项目在与代表性不足的群体接触方面取得了成功。

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.