CAREER- The Evolution of Floral Morphology in Ipomopsis: Developing a Model System through an Integrated Research and Education Program

自达尔文以来，进化生物学的一个主要焦点是阐明导致种群分化、生殖隔离和最终物种形成的机制。本CAREER项目包括一个研究项目的发展，以更好地了解植物进化，植物物种形成的遗传机制，并进一步将夹克木家族（Polemoniaceae）作为遗传研究的模式系统。本研究将通过遗传作图和基因组分析相结合的方法，阐明影响花进化和传粉者专门化的基因组区域。总之，这些研究将提供一些关于基因流动障碍的遗传学和来自自然植物种群的性状的第一批数据。该提案的一个主要目标是培训进化生物学的实习教师，并创建一个支持网络，传播材料、资源，并在教师之间发展互动，以改善进化教学。外展计划的核心将是一个由实习教师、硕士生、在职教师和PI组成的工作组。该工作组将确定进化论课程中存在问题的重点领域，研究每个主题的最佳教学策略，并制定课程计划。在可能的情况下，我们将结合基于探究和主动学习的方法，整合生物学中各种主题的进化概念。最终，我们的努力将通过教师网络、教育会议、网站和出版物尽可能广泛地传播。

Since Darwin, a major focus of evolutionary biology has been the elucidation of the mechanisms resulting in population divergence, reproductive isolation, and ultimately speciation. This CAREER project involves the development of a research program to better understand plant evolution, the genetic mechanisms underlying plant speciation, and to further the phlox family (Polemoniaceae) as a model system for genetic studies. The proposed research will elucidate the genomic regions shaping flower evolution and pollinator specialization in two subspecies of the wildflower Ipomopsis aggregata by combining genetic mapping and genomic analyses. Together, these studies will provide some of the first data on the genetics of barriers to gene flow and traits from natural plant populations.A major goal of the proposal is to train student teachers in evolutionary biology and create a support network that disseminates materials, resources, and develops interaction among teachers to improve evolution teaching. The core of the outreach program will be a working group comprised of student teachers, Master's students, working teachers, and the PI. The working group will identify problematic areas for focus in evolution curricula, research the best strategies for teaching each topic, and develop lesson plans. When possible, we will incorporate inquiry-based and active-learning methods integrating evolutionary concepts across a diversity of topics in biology. Ultimately, our efforts will be disseminated as widely as possible through a teacher network, educational conferences, a website, and publications.