Evolution of Gene Networks: The Ranunculales Order as a Model Lineage for Evolutionary Innovations

进化研究的核心目标之一是了解基因调控网络的变化如何导致新的复杂性状的起源，或者简而言之：进化新奇性是如何产生的？我们建议使用新的性状出现在毛茛目（毛茛）作为模型系统的起源，研究其起源的分子性质。毛茛目是早期分枝的真双子叶植物，包括形态多样的物种，如毛茛、罂粟、Columbines和拉克斯珀。毛茛目是特殊的，因为几个形态上的新奇反复进化，例如，距花器官和左右对称，或者花被的减少。此外，新的花器官，减少螺旋花叶序从轮生，雌雄异株，风授粉起源于这个顺序，在某些情况下重复。毛茛目中的许多物种都适合病毒诱导的基因沉默，这使得候选基因的功能特征在拟议的项目的后期阶段。（西兰花，罂粟，Capnoides sempervirens，Pteridophyllum racemosum，Thistrum thalictroides，Aquilegia coerulea，黑种草和Staphisagria picta），包括这些新奇，包括两个外群物种。对于没有基因组信息的物种，我们计划对它们的基因组进行测序。转录组将从各种组织获得，包括不同发育阶段的花芽、解剖的花器官、花瓣时间序列和营养组织。我们的最终目标是发现新的，往往是趋同的新兴特征的出现所需的GRN模块。此外，我们希望在未来解开GRN模块被重复使用和增选以产生复杂的花形态，从而推动物种多样化的过程。本研究旨在为毛茛目植物基因组和转录组的比较分析提供资源。这将为解开新形态性状起源的遗传基础铺平道路。

One of the central goals of evolutionary research is to understand how changes in gene regulatory networks leads to the origin of novel, complex traits, or, in short: How do evolutionary novelties arise? We propose to use the origin of novel traits emerging in the order Ranunculales (buttercups) as model system to study the molecular nature of their origin. Ranunculales are early branching eudicots that comprise morphologically diverse species such as buttercups, poppies, columbines and larkspur. Ranunculales are special because several morphological novelties evolved repeatedly, e.g., spurred floral organs and zygomorphy, or the reduction of perianth. Moreover, novel floral organs, reduction to spiral floral phyllotaxy from whorled, dioecy, and wind pollination originated in this order, in some cases repeatedly. Many species within the Ranunculales are amenable to Virus-Induced Gene Silencing, which allows for functional characterization of candidate genes in later stages of the proposed project.We propose to sequence 20 transcriptomes of eight Ranunculales species (Eschscholzia californica, Papaver somniferum, Capnoides sempervirens, Pteridophyllum racemosum, Thalictrum thalictroides, Aquilegia coerulea, Nigella damascena and Staphisagria picta) that encompass these novelties including two outgroup species. For the species without genome information available, we plan to sequence their genomes. The transcriptomes will be obtained from a variety of tissues, including floral buds at different developmental stages, dissected floral organs, petal time-series and vegetative tissues. Our ultimate goal is to uncover the GRN modules required for the emergence of novel, often convergently emerging traits. Furthermore, we hope to unravel in the future the processes by which GRN modules are reused and coopted to generate complex floral morphologies and thus drive species diversification. In the proposed project, we want to provide the resources for comparative analysis of genomes and transcriptomes in Ranunculales. This will pave the way to unravel the genetic base novel morphological trait origin.