CAREER: Molecular Evolution and Genetics of Hybrid Sterility in Mimulus

生殖隔离的进化对于新物种的产生过程和地球上生物多样性的起源都是至关重要的。将两种生物划分为不同物种的一个重要标准是它们不能杂交。然而，人们对阻止不同物种形成可存活后代的特定基因知之甚少。本研究的目的是鉴定两种密切相关的模式植物猕猴花（原产北美西部的一种野花）之间的杂交不育基因。通过创新的杂交设计和野外实验，这项工作将确定哪些基因维持物种，以及表征这些基因在自然界中的分子功能和进化动力学。这个项目对理解物种起源背后的分子、遗传和进化机制做出了重大贡献。这项研究将产生有价值的植物收集和基因组序列数据，这将增加Mimulus模型系统的一般效用。此外，该提案还详细介绍了一项计划，以吸引广泛的受众参与进化遗传学研究，包括当地的高中教师，他们将在自己的课堂上开发动手模拟实验室活动。该提案还包括一项改革本科生物教育的计划，将研究纳入不同学生群体的学习经历中。在与一组教育专家的合作下，首席研究员将开发一个Mimulus本科研究项目，用于佐治亚大学的大型招生入门生物学课程系列，其长期目标是提高学生在科学方面的学习和记忆。

The evolution of reproductive isolation is central to both the process of how new species arise and the origin of biodiversity on the planet. One important criterion for classifying two organisms as separate species is their inability to interbreed. However, little is known about the particular genes that prevent different species from forming viable offspring. The goal of this research is to identify the genes that cause hybrid sterility between two closely related species of the model plant Mimulus (monkeyflowers), a genus of wildflowers native to western North America. With innovative crossing designs and field experiments, this work will determine which genes maintain species, as well as characterize the molecular functions and evolutionary dynamics of these genes in nature. This project represents a significant contribution toward understanding the molecular, genetic, and evolutionary mechanisms that underlie the origin of species. This research will generate valuable plant collections and genome sequence data that will add to the general utility of the Mimulus model system. In addition, this proposal details a plan for engaging a broad audience in evolutionary genetics research, including local high school teachers who will develop hands-on Mimulus lab activities for use in their own classrooms. The proposal also includes a plan to reform undergraduate biology education by integrating research into the learning experiences of a diverse student population. In collaboration with a team of education specialists, the principal investigator will develop a Mimulus undergraduate research project for use in the University of Georgia's large enrollment introductory biology course series with the long-term goal of improving student learning and retention in the sciences.