DISSERTATION RESEARCH: A Genomic Approach to Resolving the Origin of and Evolution of Turtles

海龟是世界上最知名的动物之一，但科学家们对海龟和其他动物之间的关系知之甚少。过去使用形态学数据的研究表明，海龟是最古老的爬行动物群体，尽管一些DNA数据得出结论，海龟是一个更年轻的群体，与鳄鱼和鸟类关系更密切。虽然目前大多数使用DNA序列的研究只包括少数基因，但该项目将开发一种新的基因组学方法，对鱼类，两栖动物，爬行动物和哺乳动物的25个核基因进行测序。这些DNA数据，沿着化石的使用将有助于：1）确定海龟在生命树中的位置，2）解决海龟本身的关系，3）提供洞察海龟进化的克里思和模式。该项目将包括来自代表性不足群体的大学生的培训，结果将用于向七年级学生的公共宣传。此外，这项工作将有助于解决生命之树的一个基本部分，并将为比较进化生物学的未来研究提供一个框架。本项目开发的DNA技术将为小型实验室提供一种简单、有效的方法，使其开始收集以前仅限于大型、高预算实验室的基因组数据。

Turtles are some of the world's most recognizable animals however scientists have little idea about the relationships among turtles and other animals. Past work using morphological data indicate that turtles are the most ancient living reptile group although some DNA data conclude that turtles are a younger group more closely related to crocodiles and birds. While most of the current studies using DNA sequences include only a handful of genes, this project will develop a novel genomics approach to sequence 25 nuclear genes for fish, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals. These DNA data, along with the use of fossils will help: 1) determine the position of turtles in the tree of life, 2) resolve relationships within turtles themselves, and 3) provide insight into the tempo and mode of turtle evolution.The project will incorporate the training of undergraduates from underrepresented groups and results will be used in public outreach to seventh graders. In addition, this work will help resolve a fundamental portion of the tree of life and will provide a framework of future research in comparative evolutionary biology. The DNA technique developed in this project will provide a simple, efficient method for small laboratories to begin collecting genomic-level data previously restricted to large, high-budget laboratories.