Use of CR1 Insertions to Dissect a Deep Polytomy in Anseriformes

几十年来，雁形目动物(尖叫者、鸭子、鹅和天鹅)之间的系统关系一直存在争议。利用形态、行为和分子方法已经进行了大量的尝试来解决这些关系，然而树的重要部分仍然没有解决。这项研究使用了一种新的方法，试图通过分离和鉴定基因组中存在转座元件(称为CR1)的特定位置来解决这棵树内的主要分裂问题，其中转座元件(称为CR1)在一些物种中存在，但在其他物种中不存在。这些方法最近被证明对哺乳动物系统发育的研究很有效，希望它们在鸟类研究中也同样重要。该项目的更广泛影响包括向许多本科生介绍基因组研究，包括代表不足的群体，以及向参观大学一个专注于保护遗传学和系统学的中心的其他科学家介绍一般概念。在鸟类中研究CR1也将增加对基因组中转座元件活性的科学理解。这些元件组成了人类基因组的一半以上，由于越来越多的原因，它们越来越被认为是真核基因组的重要组成部分。最后，这项研究的核心技术在系统学领域之外还有许多其他应用，将允许从许多与鸟类无关的生物的未表征基因组中分离出各种各样的DNA靶标。

Systematic relationships among Anseriformes (screamers, ducks, geese and swans) have remained controversial for decades. Major attempts to resolve these relationships have been made using morphological, behavioral and molecular approaches, yet important parts of the tree remain unresolved. This study uses a new approach in an attempt to resolve a major polytomy within that tree by isolating and characterizing specific sites in the genome where a transposable element (called CR1) is present in some species, but not in others. Such approaches have recently proven powerful for studies of mammalian phylogeny, and it is hoped that they will be similarly important in studies of birds.The project's broader impacts include the introduction of genomic studies to many undergraduate students including underrepresented groups and the introduction of the general concepts to other scientists visiting a university-based center focused on conservation genetics and systematics. Studies of CR1 in birds will also increase scientific understanding of the activity of transposable elements within genomes. Such elements comprise over half of the human genome, and are increasingly recognized as being important components of eukaryotic genomes for an increasing variety of reasons. Finally, the technique that is central to this study has many other applications beyond the field of systematics and will allow the isolation of a wide variety of DNA targets from uncharacterized genomes of many organisms unrelated to birds.