Phylogenetic Relationships within the Tetrahymena pyriformis Complex

四膜虫属(Tetrahymena)是纤毛虫原生动物的一个重要类群，可能是从最早的真核生物进化而来的。这个属的物种是常用的实验室生物。Clifford Brunk博士建议获取该属7到10个物种的肌动蛋白基因的DNA序列，并使用这些序列数据来重建它们的祖先-后代关系。这一进化框架将为未来研究这些物种的其他基因序列奠定基础。然后可以比较不同基因的进化速度，从而更好地理解分子进化的机制。所获得的序列也可以与其他早期真核生物的序列进行比较，以揭示它们之间的进化关系。这项拟议的研究具有超越纤毛虫系统学这一狭窄领域的意义。这项研究将阐明这一早期群体的进化模式，并将导致对真核生物辐射的更清晰的了解。这个项目将导致更好地理解基因如何在同一谱系内长时间复制和进化。

The genus Tetrahymena is an important group of ciliate protozoans, possibly descended with little modification from the earliest eukaryotic organisms. Species of this genus are commonly used laboratory organisms. Dr. Clifford Brunk proposes to obtain the DNA sequences of the actin gene in 7 to 10 species of the genus, and to use these sequence data to reconstruct their ancestor-descendant relationships. This evolutionary framework will form the foundation for future studies of other gene sequences in these species. Rates of evolution in different genes can then be compared, leading to a better understanding of the mechanisms of molecular evolution. The sequences obtained can also be compared with those of other early eukaryotes to reveal their evolutionary relationships. The proposed research has implications beyond the narrow field of ciliate systematics. The research will illuminate the pattern of evolution in this early group, and will lead to a clearer picture of the radiation of eukaryotes. This project will lead to a better understanding of how genes replicate and evolve within a single lineage over long periods of time.