ATOL: Collaborative Research: The Deep Scaly Project: Resolving Squamate Phylogeny Using Genomic and Morphological Approaches

美国菲尔德自然历史博物馆（Field Museum of Natural History）的Maureen Kearney博士和Olivier Rieppel博士获得tef - 0334961a基金资助，用于研究鳞片类爬行动物（蜥蜴和蛇）的进化史。有鳞动物有7700多种，是陆地脊椎动物的第二大类群。鳞片动物进化中的许多关键问题仍未得到解决，如鳞片动物最原始谱系的鉴定、蛇的起源、毒蛇与其他蛇类谱系的关系等。一个由来自不同机构（杨百翰大学、菲尔德自然历史博物馆、圣地亚哥州立大学、纽约州立大学石溪分校、阿德莱德大学、德克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校和耶鲁大学）的八名研究人员组成的国际团队将合作解决鳞片动物的关系。活的和化石形式的解剖数据将与142个代表性鳞动物物种的50个基因的DNA序列相结合。解剖数据将使用传统的方法，以及新技术，如高分辨率x射线CT扫描。DNA数据将通过整合来自最近脊椎动物基因组计划的新工具和数据库来生成。Drs。Kearney和Rieppel将负责收集现存和化石物种的解剖数据，Jessica Maisano博士（德克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校，通过菲尔德博物馆分包）将负责研究的ct扫描部分。了解鳞片类爬行动物的进化史对于了解脊椎动物进化和生态学的全貌至关重要。在世界许多地方，毒蛇对人类安全构成重大威胁，识别是有效治疗的关键；将建立一个创新的网站，让被蛇咬伤的受害者和医务人员能够识别他们所在地区的毒蛇。博士后研究人员和学生将参与该项目的各个方面；因此，许多未来的生物学家和教育工作者的培训将得到支持。

AbstractEF-0334961A grant has been awarded to Dr. Maureen Kearney and Dr. Olivier Rieppel of the Field Museum of Natural History to study the evolutionary history of squamate reptiles (lizards and snakes). With over 7,700 species, squamates are the second largest group of terrestrial vertebrates. Many critical questions in squamate evolution remain unresolved, such as identification of the most primitive lineage of squamates, the origin of snakes, and the relationships of venomous snakes to other snake lineages. An international team of eight investigators from diverse institutions (Brigham Young University, Field Museum of Natural History, San Diego State University, State University of New York-Stony Brook, University of Adelaide, University of Texas-Austin, and Yale University) will collaborate to resolve squamate relationships. Anatomical data from living and fossil forms will be combined with DNA sequences from 50 genes for 142 representative squamate species. Anatomical data will be obtained using traditional methods, as well as new technology such as high resolution X-ray CT scanning. DNA data will be generated by incorporating new tools and databases from recent vertebrate genome projects. Drs. Kearney and Rieppel will be responsible for the collection of anatomical data for extant and fossil species, and Dr. Jessica Maisano (University of Texas-Austin, subcontracted through the Field Museum) will be responsible for the CT-scanning portion of the research. Understanding the evolutionary history of squamate reptiles is critical for a complete picture of vertebrate evolution and ecology. Venomous snakes pose an important threat to human safety in many parts of the world, and identification is critical for effective treatment; an innovative web-site will be produced allowing snakebite victims and medical workers to identify the venomous snakes in their area. Postdoctoral researchers and students will be involved in all aspects of this project; thus the training of many future biologists and educators will be supported.