Evolution of BMP Genes 2 and 4 in Arcosaurs

描述（由申请人提供）：鸟类骨融合（共骨化）进化背后的遗传基础尚未探索。骨形态发生蛋白（BMPs），尤其是BMP2和BMP4，在脊椎动物胚胎发育过程中的骨骼成骨中起着重要作用。本计画将利用比较基因组学来阐明鸟类与爬虫类的成骨bmp2与bmp4演化，因为它们与鸟类系统发生线上骨骼共骨化的演化有关。三个主要目标旨在解决这一问题。目的一是从几种鸟类、一种鳄鱼和几种蜥蜴类的BAG文库中对bmp 2和bmp 4进行测序。我将在哈佛的器官与进化生物学系和比较动物学博物馆的斯科特·爱德华兹实验室完成这一工作，该实验室已经拥有了这个项目所需的BAG图书馆和设备。目的二是阐明bmp2和bmp4调控区的进化。目的三是阐明bmp2和bmp4编码区的进化。该项目将是第一个大规模研究非鸟类爬行动物基因组结构和进化的项目。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The genetic basis behind the evolution of bone fusion (co-ossification) in birds has remained unexplored. Bone morphogenic proteins (BMPs), especially BMP2 and BMP4, are well known for their integral role in skeletal ossification during embryogenesis in vertebrates. This project will use comparative genomics to clarify osteogenic bmp2 and bmp4 evolution in birds and reptiles as they relate to the evolution of skeletal co-ossification on the phylogenetic line to birds. Three primary aims are designed to address this problem. Aim one is to "sequence bmp2 and bmp4 from BAG libraries in several birds, a crocodilian, and several saurian outgoups. I will accomplish this in Scott Edwards' laboratory at Harvard's Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology and Museum of Comparative Zoology, which already possesses the BAG libraries and equipment required for this project. Aim two is to elucidate the evolution of bmp2 and bmp4 regulatory regions. Aim three is to elucidate the evolution of bmp2 and bmp4 coding regions. This project will be the first large scale examination of non-avian reptile genome structure and evolution.