Collaborative Research: SG: RUI: Exploring the genetic basis of phenotypic novelty in experimental hybrids of monkeyflowers (Mimulus)

地球上的生命呈现出令人眼花缭乱的模式。它们的范围从内部图案，如脊髓中椎骨的重复，到外部图案，如斑马上的黑色色素条纹。色素沉着已经成为探索这些类型图案背后的起源和遗传机制的一个强大的模型。例如，通过研究蝴蝶五颜六色的眼点，人们获得了有关昆虫发育的新信息。在植物中，色素产生的机制已经得到了很好的研究，但令人惊讶的是，人们对复杂的色素沉积模式的机制知之甚少。填补这一知识空白是本研究的目标。这个项目将研究两种猴花；每种都有颜色图案截然不同的花。更重要的是，当这两个物种交配在一起时，新的错综复杂的颜色图案就会出现。由于这些新的色素模式只有当不同物种交配在一起时才能看到，这表明它们基因组之间的相互作用导致了新模式的产生。探索不同基因组之间的这种相互作用如何产生意想不到的新特征是这项研究的主要重点。将招募1名硕士生、6名本科生和6名高中生开展这项工作。这些学生将接触到高影响力的学习机会，因为他们沉浸在实践中的科学研究中。至少有两名高中生将从一所专门为弱势青少年服务的高中中挑选出来。变种太复杂了，不能用标准方法来量化。取而代之的是，一条新的数字图像分析管道正在开发中。这种方法将有助于分析猴头花和其他分类群的空间格局。研究人员将使用这种新方法来识别和量化表型多样化的F2杂交群体中花卉颜色模式的元素。下一代测序将用于绘制导致观察到的花型变化的基因组区域。由于铜绿微囊藻和变色微囊藻在黄色类胡萝卜素着色方面也不同，将使用相同的表型和遗传数据集来确定不同类胡萝卜素产生的遗传基础，这是植物生理学中一个重要但研究不足的组成部分。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Life on earth exhibits a dazzling array of patterns. These range from internal patterns, like the repetition of vertebrae in the spinal cord, to external patterns like the stripes of black pigment on a zebra. Pigmentation has become a powerful model for exploring the origins and genetic mechanisms behind these types of patterns. For example, new information about insect development has been learned by studying the colorful eyespots in butterflies. In plants, the mechanisms of pigment production have been well-studied, but surprisingly little is known about the mechanisms of complex patterns of pigmentation. Filling this knowledge gap is the goal of this research. This project will study two species of monkeyflower; each has flowers with strikingly different color patterns. What's more, when the two species are mated together, new intricate and complex color patterns emerge. Since these new pigmentation patterns are seen only when different species are mated together, it suggests that interactions between their genomes give rise to the new patterns. Exploring how such interactions between different genomes can produce unexpected new traits is a primary focus of this research. One master's student, six undergraduates, and six high school students will be recruited to carry out this work. These students will be exposed to high-impact learning opportunities as they are immersed in hands-on scientific research. At least two of the high school students will be selected from a high school that specifically serves disadvantaged youth.The pigmentation patterns in the hybrids of Mimulus cupreus x M. luteus var. variegatus are too intricate to quantify using standard approaches. Instead, a new digital image analysis pipeline is being developed. This approach will be useful for analyzing spatial patterning in monkeyflowers and in other taxa. The researchers will use this new method to identify and quantify elements of floral color pattern in a phenotypically diverse F2 hybrid population. Next-generation sequencing will be used to map the genomic regions responsible for the observed variation in flower patterns. Because M. cupreus and M. l. variegatus also differ in yellow carotenoid pigmentation, the same phenotypic and genetic datasets will be used to identify the genetic basis of divergent carotenoid production, which is an important but under-studied component of plant physiology.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.