Molecular Evolutionary Genetics of Coral Symbioses: Research Fellowship in Marine Biotechnology

造礁珊瑚在营养不良的局部海域繁衍生息，因为它们栖息着光养共生体--虫黄藻。由于传统的生物学方法没有提供一种虫黄杆菌分类方案，对这些共生体的了解受到了严重的限制。利用分子生物学的工具，罗文博士将开发快速和信息丰富的方法来鉴定动物性花斑病菌。这些方法将极大地促进海洋甲藻共生的研究。这项奖学金研究将侧重于为研究珊瑚共生体的生态结构奠定基础。这些信息将为研究共生机制提供一个概念框架。

Reef-building corals flourish in nutrient-poor topical seas because they harbor phototrophic symbionts, the zooxanthellae. An understanding of these symbioses is severely limited by the fact that traditional biological methods have not provided a scheme for zooxanthella classification. Using the tools of molecular biology, Dr. Rowan will develop rapid and informative methods for zoozanthella identification. These methods will greatly advance the study of marine dinoflagellate symbioses. This fellowship research will focus on establishing the basis for study of the ecological structure of coral symbioses. This information will provide a conceptual framework for studying the mechanics of symbiosis.