Functional Evolution of Flower Organ Identity Genes in the basal Eudicot Thalictrum: Implications for transitions in breeding and pollination systems

在查尔斯·达尔文将开花植物（被子植物）的起源和多样化称为“令人憎恶的谜团”之后的世纪，这个难题的答案终于可以得到了。现代发育生物学和基因组学提供了重要的线索：许多控制花发育的基因已经被鉴定出来，重要的是，基因复制通常与多样化有关。这个项目将阐明花发育的基因如何承担不同的角色，推动陆地植物的显着多样化。因此，该项目将推进发展的演变（“evo-devo”）领域。该项目还将为改变花卉结构以造福人类的努力提供信息;作为种子，水果和花粉的前体，花卉是整个人类食物供应的基础。在这项研究中使用的植物组，Thaplittrum（毛茛科），具有多样性和独特的有用的组合的功能：单性和两性花，昆虫和风授粉。因此，Thachtrum是一个很好的实验室，以确定在育种和授粉系统的过渡的基础。该项目将利用具有改良花型和实验基因破坏的品种，为基因复制后的花器官特化模型提供信息。第二个目标是概括从雌雄同体到雌花的转变，以及从艳丽的昆虫授粉到不显眼的风媒传粉的花朵的转变。该项目将通过大学赞助的项目，包括少数民族基因组学外展（Genomics Outreach for Minorities，GenOM-ALVA），NASA-SURP和HHMI综合研究实习，吸引本科生研究人员。活动将包括参加在科学会议上的发言和同行审查的出版物。外联活动包括参加国家实验室日、本地植物协会讲座和一个数据共享网站。

Over a century after Charles Darwin referred to the origin and diversification of the flowering plants (angiosperms) as an "abominable mystery," answers to this dilemma are finally attainable. Modern developmental biology and genomics provide important clues: many of the genes controlling flower development have been identified and, importantly, gene duplication is often associated with diversification. This project will elucidate how the genes underlying floral development assume different roles driving the remarkable diversification of land plants. Thus, the project will advance the field of evolution of development ("evo-devo"). The project also will inform efforts to modify floral structure to benefit humanity; as the precursors of seeds, fruits and pollen, flowers are the foundation of the entire human food supply. The plant group used in this study, Thalictrum (Ranunculaceae), has a diverse and uniquely useful combination of features: unisexual and bisexual flowers, insect and wind pollination. Thalictrum is, therefore, an excellent laboratory to determine the basis for transitions in breeding and pollination system. The project will take advantage of cultivars with modified floral patterns and experimental gene disruption to inform a model of floral organ specification after gene duplication. A second aim is to recapitulate transitions from hermaphrodite to female flowers, and from showy insect-pollinated to inconspicuous wind-pollinated flowers.The project will engage undergraduate researchers through the university-sponsored programs including Genomics Outreach for Minorities (GenOM-ALVA), NASA-SURP and HHMI Integrative Research Internships. Activities will include participation in presentations at scientific meetings and peer-reviewed publications. Outreach activities include participation in National Laboratory Day, Native Plant Society talks and a website for data-sharing.