DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Investigating the impact of hybridization on diversification: A case study in the plant genus Heuchera

杂交具有广泛的相关性，因为它是我们周围许多多样性的基础，包括农作物和害虫。物种之间成功的古代自然杂交的存在挑战了生物学中的传统观念，即杂交是生物多样性进化中短暂的死胡同。然而，使用遗传数据检测古代杂交种是具有挑战性的，因为杂交种具有具有不同潜在历史和特征的基因的“马赛克”。在这个项目中，研究人员将测试关于古代杂交的假说，特别是更新世冰川是否通过引起范围转移而使杂交成为可能。拟议的工作将在Heuchera属内进行，方法是在已确定的几个平行案例中比较杂交和亲本谱系之间的物种丰富度。本项目从DNA和形态的角度对珊瑚钟(Heuchera)进行分析，以研究杂交对进化的长期贡献。本研究的目的包括(1)发现杂交种，(2)检验与亲本的物种形成的相对速率，(3)重建历史地理范围。这项研究通过提供用于比较研究的DNA序列、用于推论进化史的数据、描述新的和稀有物种和品种以及创建博物馆标本和鉴定检索表，为科学基础设施作出贡献。该项目包括对本科生进行研究方法培训，为本科生班级创建教学练习，以及关于一般杂交和项目具体方面的公开讲座。

Hybridization is broadly relevant because it is the basis for much of the diversity around us, including agricultural crops and pests. The existence of successful ancient natural hybrids between species challenges traditional notions in biology that hybrids are ephemeral dead-ends in the evolution of biodiversity. However, detecting ancient hybrids using genetic data is challenging since hybrids have a "mosaic" of genes possessing different underlying histories and traits. In this project, the investigators will test hypotheses about ancient hybridizations, specifically whether Pleistocene glaciations have enabled hybridization by causing range shifts. The proposed work will be conducted within the genus Heuchera by comparing species richness between hybrid and parental lineages in several parallel cases that have been identified. This project analyzes Coral Bells (Heuchera) from a DNA and morphological perspective to investigate the long-term contribution of hybridization to evolution. The objectives of this study include (1) the discovery of hybrids, (2) examination of relative rates of species formation with parents, and (3) reconstruction of historical geographical ranges. This study contributes to scientific infrastructure through the provision of DNA sequences for comparative studies, data for the inference of evolutionary history, descriptions of new and rare species and varieties, and the creation of museum specimens and identification keys. The project includes training of undergraduates in research methods, the creation of pedagogical exercises for undergraduate classes, and public lectures on hybridization in general and on specific aspects of the project.