DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Evolution of floral symmetry in Lamiales

花在形态上表现出显着的变化，影响授粉昆虫如何识别它们，但这种形式的进化还没有得到很好的理解。薄荷和他们的亲戚是一个很好的群体，在其中研究花的形状演变，因为有很多变化，从径向对称到双边对称和背部。本项目将检验以下假设：（a）薄荷近缘种从径向对称向两侧对称的主要转变与花对称模式基因的额外拷贝和基因表达的变化有关;（B）由于相同基因的多样化而恢复到径向对称。因此，它们将为教育公众了解进化和发展以及植物-昆虫相互作用提供一个极好的后院范例。此外，该项目还将培训两名本科生。

Flowers exhibit remarkable variation in form, affecting how pollinating insects recognize them, but the evolution of that form is not well understood. The mints and their relatives are a good group in which to study the evolution of floral shape, because there have been many changes from radial symmetry to bilateral symmetry and back. This project will test the hypothesis that (a) a major shift from radial symmetry to bilateral symmetry within the mint relatives correlates with extra copies of floral symmetry patterning genes, and changes in gene expression; (b) a return to radial symmetry occurred by diversification of the same genes.Mints and their relatives are commonly used as ornamental plants for their spectacular flowers; they will thus provide an excellent backyard example for the education of the general public on evolution and development, and plant-insect interactions. Additionally, the project will involve the training of two undergraduate students.