The Role Of Gene Duplication in the Floral Symmetry in Dipsacales

花的形状、颜色和大小几乎无穷无尽的多样性在整个历史上吸引了人类。基因变化如何影响这些特征是生物学中一个引人注目的问题。仔细观察不同的花朵，可以发现它们是如何形成的。大约70%的开花植物物种属于一个基本上有五个部分的群体（例如，五个花瓣）和这些部分如何定向的严格模式。最大的区别是径向对称的花，所有的花瓣彼此等距，和双边对称的花，一个单一的对称平面将花从上到下分成两半。该项目使用川续断目（金银花及其亲属）来研究花对称性进化变化的遗传基础。多样性在川续断目表现出多个转移之间的径向对称的群体和不同形式的双边对称。向两侧对称的转变与某些基因的重复有关，这表明需要这些基因的多个拷贝来形成更复杂的两侧对称的花。该项目将建立在以前对这些“花对称基因”的进化研究的基础上，以确定这些基因在何处和何时运作的变化如何影响相关群体之间花对称性的变化。几乎所有的科学家都有一位鼓舞人心的老师或家长，让他们接触科学，这突出了通过积极的科学教育接触尽可能多的学生的必要性。圣约翰大学位于该国最多样化的县，学生群体以代表性不足的群体为主，为调查人员提供了让来自各个层次和背景的学生接触科学的机会。该项目将为不同的本科生以及来自森林山高中的高中生提供研究机会。这些学生将通过实践经验和密切的指导学习现代分子生物学技术。

The nearly endless diversity of floral shape, color, and size, has captivated humans throughout history. How gene changes affect these traits is a compelling question in biology. Close observation of diverse flowers uncovers significant constraint on how they form. Approximately 70% of flowering plant species falling into a group that fundamentally have five parts (e.g., five petals) and strict patterns of how these parts are oriented. The greatest distinction is between flowers that are radially symmetrical, with all the petals equidistant from each other, and flowers that are bilaterally symmetrical with a single plane of symmetry that divides the flower in half from top to bottom. This project uses Dipsacales (honeysuckle and its relatives) to examine the genetic basis of evolutionary shifts in flower symmetry. Diversification in the Dipsacales shows multiple shifts between radially symmetrical groups and different forms of bilateral symmetry. The shifts to bilateral symmetry correlate with duplications in certain genes, suggesting that multiple copies of these genes are needed to form a more complex bilaterally symmetrical flower. This project will build on previous evolutionary examinations of these "floral symmetry genes" to determine how shifts in where and when these genes operate affect shifts in floral symmetry among related groups. Nearly all scientists had an inspirational teacher or parent who exposed them to science, highlighting the need to reach as many students as possible with active science education. St. John's University, situated in the most diverse county in the country, with a student body dominated by under-represented groups, provides investigators the opportunity to expose students from all levels and backgrounds to science. The project will provide research opportunities for diverse undergraduates as well as high school students from Forest Hills High School. These students will learn modern molecular biology techniques through hands on experience and close mentoring.