Research Starter Grant

发现一棵从统计学上得到充分支持的生命树是系统生物学的一个基本目标，特别是在基因组数据迅速从模型生物中获得的情况下。这项建议的目的是确定系统学家在面对难以解决的物种关系问题时应该使用的最合适的数据采样策略。鬣蜥是检验以下假设的理想群体：较少的(5-10个)大基因将为快速辐射的分类群恢复强大的系统发育支持，而不是使用大量(10)较小的基因片段。这些爬行动物分布在世界各地，几乎占据了每一个栖息地，有许多适应性辐射的例子。这项研究促进了本科生和主要研究机构之间的互动，为生物学、数学和计算机科学提供了一种独特的合作。本科生将参与数据收集、分析、手稿开发和出版，以及在地方和国家科学会议上的陈述。数据和结果将在网上公开。在这项研究中开发的新DNA标记，使用来自鸡、鼠和人类基因组计划的序列，将为致力于远缘分类群(爬行动物、两栖动物和鱼类)的研究人员提供对未来系统发育研究有用的基因座和采样策略，这些策略将对所有致力于恢复生命树的生物学家具有广泛的适用性。

The discovery of a statistically well-supported Tree of Life is a fundamental goal of systematic biology, particularly with genomic data rapidly becoming available from model organisms. The objective of this proposal is to determine the most appropriate data sampling strategy systematists should use in the face of difficult to resolve problems of species relationships. Iguanian lizards are an ideal group to test the hypothesis that fewer (5-10) large genes will recover strong phylogenetic support for rapidly radiating taxa rather than using a large number (10) of smaller gene fragments. These reptiles have a worldwide distribution occupying almost every habitat with numerous examples of adaptive radiations. Almost every major iguanian lineage will be sequenced for at least six nuclear genes to generate a tree to be used in a series of analytical experiments determining the most appropriate strategy for recovering a statistically supported tree.This research facilitates interactions between undergraduate students and major research institutions to provide a unique collaboration of biology, mathematics, and computer science. Undergraduates will be involved in data collection, analysis, manuscript development and publication, as well as presentation at local and national scientific meetings. Data and results will be publicly available on the web. New DNA markers developed in this study, using sequences from the Chicken, Mouse, and Human Genome Projects, will provide researchers working on distantly related taxa (reptiles, amphibians, and fish) with loci useful for future phylogenetic studies and sampling strategies that will have wide applicability for all biologists working on recovering the Tree of Life.