REU: Ribosomal Genes and Chlorophyte Phylogeny

一种强大的新工具， 进化关系将用于研究淡水 和海洋绿色，包括那些被认为是 与陆生植物关系最为密切。 的比较 来自细胞质核糖体的核糖核酸（RNA）分子将 提供了一个新的和令人兴奋的观点， 世纪来一直是研究关注的焦点。 其他 现代方法，如电子显微镜，提供了 绿色藻类分类的主要修订 现在可以通过分子分析来测试。 的比较 绿色藻类的细胞质核糖体RNA分子也将 提供了一个主要的基础比较类似的研究， 绿色藻类叶绿体的分子进化， 可能不同于细胞质的进化 核糖体RNA。 此外，这项研究将是一个模型， 与其他主要藻类的研究平行， 还有褐藻、硅藻和腰鞭毛虫。 在这个项目中，18s和26s核糖体RNA的部分 分子将被直接测序（通过双脱氧核苷酸引物 扩展）。 大量的数据集将被存储，排列， 用各种计算机程序进行比较和分析。 支序 对数据的分析将为推断 绿色藻类的古老谱系和分化模式。 制作的“家谱”将与那些基于 形态学、超微结构和生化特征。 核糖体RNA数据的计算机辅助分支分析 与非分子信息的结合将提供 不同类型信息的重要综合，因此， 应该帮助我们发展一个自然的分类系统， 绿色藻类和更好地了解藻类的起源 陆地植物

The powerful new tool of comparing molecules to show evolutionary relationships will be used in studying freshwater and marine green algae, including those green algae thought to be most closely related to the land plants. A comparison of the ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecules from cytoplasmic ribosomes will offer a new and exciting perspective on questions that have been the focus of research attention for more than a century. Other modern approaches, such as electron microscopy, have provided major revisions of the classification of green algae, revisions that can now be tested by molecular analysis. The comparison of cytoplasmic ribosomal RNA molecules of green algae also will provide a major basis for comparison to similar studies of the molecular evolution of the chloroplasts of green algae, an evolution that may be different from that of the cytoplasmic ribosomal RNAs. Also, this study will be a model for and parallel to studies of other major groups of algae including red and brown algae, the diatoms, and the dinoflagellates. In this project portions of the 18s and 26s ribosomal RNA molecules will be sequenced directly (by dideoxynucleotide primer extension). The massive data set will be stored, aligned, compared, and analyzed with various computer programs. Cladistic analysis of the data will provide the basis for inferring the ancient lineages and patterns of divergences for the green algae. The "family trees" produced will be contrasted with those based on morphological, ultrastructural, and biochemical characters. Computer-assisted cladistic analysis of ribosomal RNA data in combination with non-molecular information will provide an important synthesis of different types of information and thus, should help us develop a natural system of classification for the green algae and a better understanding of the algal origins of land plants.