DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Surmounting the Bottleneck: Using Population Genomics to Study the Process of Formation and Establishment in Autotetraploids

基因组复制是植物界的一种普遍现象，它创造的个体具有两倍的遗传含量，是造成生命多样性的重要因素。尽管它越来越被认为是重要的，但人们对产生重复基因组并产生新物种的进化过程知之甚少。为了加强我们对这一过程的理解，PI研究了植物拟南芥，这是一个有两种类型的种群的物种。一种类型具有重复的基因组(四倍体)，另一种类型具有典型的祖先基因组大小(二倍体)。PI目前正在收集许多四倍体种群的DNA序列数据，以了解它们的进化史，但从二倍体祖先那里获得这些相同的数据对于理解四倍体产生的背景至关重要。DDIGH基金将用于收集更多具有重复基因组的个体，以便种群类型类型之间的比较可以提供对物种的洞察。该项目不仅将阐明产生进化新颖性的生物过程，还将培训有抱负的科学家，他们将前往东欧收集植物，并在美国提取它们的DNA。结果将向科学界和公众公布，以提高对这一重要进化过程的认识。高中生还将受益于一个名为PLATING Science的在线组织，该组织允许研究人员指导有抱负的年轻学生。

Genome duplication, which creates individuals with twice the genetic content, is a common phenomenon in the plant kingdom and an important contributor to the diversity of life. Though it has been increasingly recognized as important, little is known about the evolutionary processes that generate duplicated genomes and result in new species. To enhance our understanding of this process, the PIs study the plant Arabidopsis arenosa, a species that has two types of populations. One type has duplicated genomes (tetraploids) and the other type has the typical ancestral genome size (diploids). The PIs are currently collecting DNA sequence data from many tetraploid populations to learn about their evolutionary history, but having these same data from the diploid progenitor is crucial for understanding the context in which the tetraploids arose. DDIG funds will be used to collect more individuals that have duplicated genomes so that comparisons between the type types of populations can provide insight into speciation.This project will not only elucidate the biological processes that give rise to evolutionary novelty but will also train aspiring scientists who will travel to eastern Europe to collect plants and extract their DNA back in the US. The results will be presented to the scientific community and general public to increase awareness of this important evolutionary process. High school students will also benefit through an online organization called Planting Science that allows researchers to mentor young, aspiring students.