DISSERTATION RESEARCH: The genetic and epigenetic basis of seed mass

传统的进化生物学模型建立在基因和性状之间的直接关系上。然而，基因功能和基因之间的关系及其对生物体的影响可能相当复杂，这取决于基因组中的其他基因，环境，甚至基因是从哪个亲本遗传的。后一种情况，称为基因组印记，是这项研究的重点。 印记的进化和发展的后果将在番茄（Solanum lycopersicum）与控制温室杂交和基因表达水平的研究相结合。除了发现影响种子重量的基因组印记区域外，这项研究还将确定对种子性状的其他复杂遗传影响。印记基因在包括人类在内的各种生物中很常见，但对这种现象的进化和发育后果知之甚少。 印迹在人类健康中很重要，因为一些遗传疾病是由于印迹的错误表达。 此外，印记通常是杂交和作物改良的障碍，特别是在茄属（番茄、马铃薯及其近缘植物）中。

Traditional models in evolutionary biology are founded on a straightforward relationship between genes and traits. However, gene function and the relationship between the genes and their influence on organisms can be quite complex, depending on other genes in the genome, the environment, and even from which parent the gene is inherited. This later case, known as genomic imprinting, is the focus of this research. The evolutionary and developmental consequences of imprinting will be examined in tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) with a combination of controlled greenhouse crosses and studies of gene expression levels. In addition to discovering imprinted regions of the genome that influence seed weight, this research also will identify other complex genetic influences on seed traits.Imprinted genes are common in diverse organisms, including humans, but little is known about the evolutionary and developmental consequences of this phenomenon. Imprinting is important in human health as some genetic diseases are due to mis-expression of imprinting. Additionally imprinting is often a barrier to hybridization and crop improvement especially in the genus Solanum (tomatoes, potatoes and their relatives).