ROW/RPG: Molecular Approach to the Systematics of the Tubellaria (Platyhelminthes)

这个项目研究了 三组自由生活的扁形虫 一个高度保守的基因 线粒体DNA将被一种新技术放大 叫做聚合酶链式反应，简称PCR。 一旦放大， 基因将被测序。 扩增产物也将用于 克隆较大的线粒体DNA片段， 可以确定其他线粒体基因的顺序。 线粒体DNA基因顺序将用于确定进化 这三种扁形虫之间的关系。 这 信息将是一个长期研究的开始， 线粒体基因顺序和核DNA的基因序列 整个扁形虫家族的代表 许多扁形虫在关于扁形虫起源的理论中占有关键地位。 多细胞动物 因此，更好地了解 扁形虫之间的关系也将对 更好地理解多细胞动物的进化。

This project investigates the evolutionary relationships among three groups of free-living flatworms. A highly conserved gene of the mitochondrial DNA will be amplified using a new technique called the polymerase chain reaction, or PCR. Once amplified, the gene will be sequenced. The amplified products will also be used to clone larger pieces of the mitochondrial DNA with which the order of other mitochondrial genes can be determined. Mitochondrial DNA gene order will be used to determine evolutionary relationships among the three groups of flatworms. This information will be a beginning for a long-term study on mitochondrial gene order and gene sequences of nuclear DNA of representatives of an entire family of flatworms. Many flatworms hold a key position in theories on the origin of multicellular animals. Therefore, a better understanding of relationships among flatworms will also have implications for a better understanding of the evolution of multicellular animals.