Collaborative Research: Evolutionary Dynamics of a Color Polymorphism in the Desert Annual Linanthus parryae

现代进化生物学的目标之一是 了解决定分布的力， 保持自然种群中的遗传变异。 两 主要的进化力量是1）遗传漂变， 在基因频率由于随机过程与小 人口规模，2）自然选择，差异 个体的生存和繁衍。 的目的 建议的研究是量化这些因素的相对重要性， 沙漠植物Linanthus parryae的种群。 本种在冬雨后开花， 白色或蓝色的花。 Sewall博士之前的研究 赖特是群体遗传学领域的创始人之一， 这表明该物种的种群规模相当大， 小，这两种花的颜色保持在自然状态 随机遗传漂变的种群。 备择假设 不同颜色的植物适应不同的地方 条件，也许是由于对比的能力，以吸引 授粉并产生种子。 因为花的颜色是 遗传性状，这种选择过程将导致改变， 人口的基因组成。 拟议研究 会发现随机事件和选择性差异 个体之间的相互作用会导致 植物种群 这些信息对我们的 了解生物多样性。

One of the goals of modern evolutionary biology is to understand the forces that determine the distribution and maintenance of genetic variation in natural populations. Two of the primary evolutionary forces are 1) genetic drift, the change in gene frequency due to random processes associated with small population size, and 2) natural selection, the differential survival and reproduction of individuals. The purpose of the proposed research is to quantify the relative importance of these forces in populations of the desert plant, Linanthus parryae. This species flowers after winter rains, and individuals produce either white or blue flowers. Previous research by Dr. Sewall Wright, one of the founders of the field of population genetics, suggested that the population size of this species was quite small, and that the two flower colors were maintained in natural populations by random genetic drift. The alternative hypothesis is that different colored plants are adapted to different local conditions, perhaps due to contrasting abilities to attract pollinators and produce seed. Because flower color is an inherited trait, this selective process will cause a change in the genetic make-up of the population. The proposed research will identify how random events and selective differences between individuals can contribute to evolutionary changes in plant populations. Such information is vital to our understanding of biological diversity.