The Role Of Gene Duplication in the Floral Symmetry in Dipsacales

几乎无穷无尽的花朵形状、颜色和大小的多样性，在整个历史上一直吸引着人类。基因变化是如何影响这些特征的，这是生物学中一个引人注目的问题。仔细观察不同的花，会发现它们的形成受到很大的限制。大约70%的开花植物物种归入一个基本上由五个部分(例如，五个花瓣)和这些部分如何定向的严格模式组成的群体。最大的区别是花是径向对称的，所有的花瓣彼此等距，而花是两侧对称的，只有一个对称平面，将花从上到下一分为二。这个项目使用川续断(金银花及其近缘植物)来研究花对称性进化转变的遗传基础。川续断的多样化表现为放射状对称群和不同形式的两侧对称性之间的多重移动。向两侧对称的转变与某些基因的复制有关，这表明需要这些基因的多个副本才能形成更复杂的两侧对称的花。这个项目将建立在以前对这些“花对称基因”的进化研究的基础上，以确定这些基因在何时何地起作用的变化如何影响相关群体中花对称的变化。几乎所有科学家都有一位鼓舞人心的老师或家长让他们接触科学，这突显了通过积极的科学教育接触尽可能多的学生的必要性。圣约翰大学位于美国最多元化的县，学生群体由代表不足的群体主导，为调查人员提供了让各个层次和背景的学生接触科学的机会。该项目将为不同的本科生以及森林山高中的高中生提供研究机会。这些学生将通过亲身体验和密切指导来学习现代分子生物学技术。

The nearly endless diversity of floral shape, color, and size, has captivated humans throughout history. How gene changes affect these traits is a compelling question in biology. Close observation of diverse flowers uncovers significant constraint on how they form. Approximately 70% of flowering plant species falling into a group that fundamentally have five parts (e.g., five petals) and strict patterns of how these parts are oriented. The greatest distinction is between flowers that are radially symmetrical, with all the petals equidistant from each other, and flowers that are bilaterally symmetrical with a single plane of symmetry that divides the flower in half from top to bottom. This project uses Dipsacales (honeysuckle and its relatives) to examine the genetic basis of evolutionary shifts in flower symmetry. Diversification in the Dipsacales shows multiple shifts between radially symmetrical groups and different forms of bilateral symmetry. The shifts to bilateral symmetry correlate with duplications in certain genes, suggesting that multiple copies of these genes are needed to form a more complex bilaterally symmetrical flower. This project will build on previous evolutionary examinations of these "floral symmetry genes" to determine how shifts in where and when these genes operate affect shifts in floral symmetry among related groups. Nearly all scientists had an inspirational teacher or parent who exposed them to science, highlighting the need to reach as many students as possible with active science education. St. John's University, situated in the most diverse county in the country, with a student body dominated by under-represented groups, provides investigators the opportunity to expose students from all levels and backgrounds to science. The project will provide research opportunities for diverse undergraduates as well as high school students from Forest Hills High School. These students will learn modern molecular biology techniques through hands on experience and close mentoring.