Functional Evolution of Flower Organ Identity Genes in the basal Eudicot Thalictrum: Implications for transitions in breeding and pollination systems

在查尔斯·达尔文（Charles Darwin）将开花植物（被子植物）的起源和多样化称为“令人憎恶的谜团”之后的一个多世纪，这个难题终于有了答案。现代发育生物学和基因组学提供了重要的线索：许多控制花发育的基因已经被确定，重要的是，基因复制通常与多样化有关。该项目将阐明植物花发育的基因如何在陆地植物的显著多样化中扮演不同的角色。因此，该项目将推动发展演变领域（“发展-发展”）。该项目还将为改变植物结构以造福人类的努力提供信息；作为种子、果实和花粉的前体，花是整个人类食物供应的基础。本研究中使用的植物群，毛茛科（Thalictrum），具有多样化和独特的有用特征组合：单性和两性花，昆虫和风媒授粉。因此，Thalictrum是一个很好的实验室，可以确定育种和授粉系统转变的基础。该项目将利用改良花型和实验性基因破坏的品种，为基因复制后的花器官规格模型提供信息。第二个目的是概括从雌雄同体到雌花的转变，以及从艳丽的昆虫传粉到不起眼的风传粉的转变。该项目将通过大学赞助的项目，包括少数民族基因组学推广（genome - alva）、NASA-SURP和HHMI综合研究实习，吸引本科生研究人员。活动将包括参加科学会议和同行评议出版物的报告。外展活动包括参加国家实验室日、本地植物协会讲座和一个数据共享网站。

Over a century after Charles Darwin referred to the origin and diversification of the flowering plants (angiosperms) as an "abominable mystery," answers to this dilemma are finally attainable. Modern developmental biology and genomics provide important clues: many of the genes controlling flower development have been identified and, importantly, gene duplication is often associated with diversification. This project will elucidate how the genes underlying floral development assume different roles driving the remarkable diversification of land plants. Thus, the project will advance the field of evolution of development ("evo-devo"). The project also will inform efforts to modify floral structure to benefit humanity; as the precursors of seeds, fruits and pollen, flowers are the foundation of the entire human food supply. The plant group used in this study, Thalictrum (Ranunculaceae), has a diverse and uniquely useful combination of features: unisexual and bisexual flowers, insect and wind pollination. Thalictrum is, therefore, an excellent laboratory to determine the basis for transitions in breeding and pollination system. The project will take advantage of cultivars with modified floral patterns and experimental gene disruption to inform a model of floral organ specification after gene duplication. A second aim is to recapitulate transitions from hermaphrodite to female flowers, and from showy insect-pollinated to inconspicuous wind-pollinated flowers.The project will engage undergraduate researchers through the university-sponsored programs including Genomics Outreach for Minorities (GenOM-ALVA), NASA-SURP and HHMI Integrative Research Internships. Activities will include participation in presentations at scientific meetings and peer-reviewed publications. Outreach activities include participation in National Laboratory Day, Native Plant Society talks and a website for data-sharing.