DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Identification and Characterization of Incompatibility Genes that Contribute to Postzygotic Reproductive Isolation Between Species of Mimulus

当一个物种分裂成两个或两个以上生殖隔离的种群时，就发生了物种形成。这些后代物种之间的生殖隔离障碍的进化是必要的，以防止基因交换和保存物种差异。到目前为止，很少有研究确定哪些基因导致生殖隔离。这一建议的重点是一种类型的交配后生殖隔离，杂交不育，这被认为是进化的遗传变化的积累，是不相容的，当他们走到一起，在物种杂交。这项研究将调查一种简单的遗传不相容性，这种不相容性导致两种密切相关的猴花属植物Mimulus guttatus和M.鼻骨。本项目的目标是克隆这些杂种不育基因，并表征其发育和分子功能。建立Mimulus“物种形成基因”的分子身份和功能将是理解形成物种分歧的进化力量的重要一步。此外，拟议的研究将提供一个详细的分析的协调和时间的花和花粉发育的Mimulus，一个模型系统的花适应和物种形成的研究。该项目还将为高中生和本科生提供进行合作实验室研究的机会。

Speciation occurs when a single species splits into two or more reproductively isolated populations. The evolution of reproductive isolating barriers among these descendent species is essential to prevent gene exchange and preserve species differences. Thus far, few studies have identified which genes cause reproductive isolation. This proposal focuses on one type of post-mating reproductive isolation, hybrid sterility, which is thought to evolve by an accumulation of genetic changes that are incompatible when they come together in species hybrids. The proposed research will investigate a simple genetic incompatibility that causes hybrid male sterility between two closely related species of monkeyflower, Mimulus guttatus and M. nasutus. The objectives of this project are to clone these hybrid sterility genes and to characterize their developmental and molecular functions. Establishing the molecular identities and functions of Mimulus "speciation genes" will be an important step towards understanding the evolutionary forces that shape species divergence. Furthermore, the proposed research will provide a detailed analysis of the coordination and timing of flower and pollen development in Mimulus, a model system for studies of floral adaptation and speciation. This project will also provide opportunities for high school and undergraduate students to conduct collaborative laboratory research.