Evolution of BMP Genes 2 and 4 in Arcosaurs

描述(由申请人提供)：鸟类骨融合(共成骨)进化背后的遗传基础仍未被探索。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起着重要的骨化作用。这个项目将使用比较基因组学来阐明鸟类和爬行动物中成骨的BMP2和BMP4的进化，因为它们与鸟类系统发育线上骨骼共成骨的进化有关。为了解决这个问题，我们设计了三个主要目标。第一个目标是从几种鸟类、鳄鱼和几种蜥蜴的BAG文库中测序BMP2和BMP4。我将在哈佛大学组织与进化生物学系和比较动物学博物馆的Scott Edwards实验室完成这项工作，该实验室已经拥有该项目所需的BAG文库和设备。第二个目标是阐明BMP2和Bmp4调节区的进化。第三个目标是阐明BMP2和Bmp4编码区的进化。这将是首次大规模研究非鸟类爬行动物的基因组结构和进化。

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.