Investigation of chromosome pairing, synaptonemal complex formation and reciprocal genetic exchange during meiosis in arabidopsis thaliana

我寻求NSERC的资金来研究减数分裂过程中的染色体。高等生物，如人类，是二倍体。这意味着人类成年人有两套完整的染色体；一套来自母亲，一套来自父亲。从父母双方得到的对应染色体称为同源染色体。例如，一个人从母亲那里得到一条染色体#1，从父亲那里得到另一份1号染色体。这两份1号染色体被称为同源染色体。如果一个人从母亲那里得到一条2号染色体，从父亲那里得到另一份2号染色体，依此类推。因此，二倍体生物的每条不同的染色体都有两个版本。即使二倍体生物有两套完整的染色体，也是如此。它们必须只给后代一个完整的染色体组(称为单倍体组)。大多数二倍体成虫为他们的配子产生单倍体组。在受精过程中，来自每个亲本的两个配子可以结合形成二倍体合子。减数分裂是一种特殊的核分裂，通过这种分裂，染色体的数量会减少(从二倍体减少到单倍体)，以期受精。在减数分裂过程中，同源染色体配对并交换同源片段。这种交换对产生功能配子至关重要。我建议研究高等植物拟南芥配对和交换过程中的染色体组织，并表征单个基因的减数分裂功能，从而加深我们对染色体配对和互惠遗传交换过程的理解。因为这些过程对正常的有性繁殖至关重要，所以它们是高度保守的。了解拟南芥的减数分裂可以更好地了解植物和动物的减数分裂。减数分裂中的错误会导致产生遗传不平衡的配子，从而导致出生缺陷或死亡。了解减数分裂也可以为植物和牲畜育种计划带来更好的策略。因此，拟议的减数分裂研究可能会对作物和牲畜改良以及理解人类的出生缺陷等各种问题产生影响。

I seek NSERC funds to study chromosomes during meiosis. Higher organisms such as humans are diploids.  This means human adults have two complete sets of chromosomes; one set received from the mother and one set is received from the father. The counterpart chromosomes received from each parent are called homologous chromosomes.  For example an individual gets a chromosome #1 from mom and another copy of chromosome #1 from dad.  These two copies of chromosome #1 are called homologous chromosomes.  An individual gets a chromosome #2 from mom and another copy of chromosome #2 from dad, etc.  Diploid organisms therefore have two versions of each of its different chromosomes.     Even though diploid organisms have two complete sets of chromosomes, they must only give one complete set (called a haploid set) to their offspring.  Diploid adults produce haploid sets for their gametes.  Gametes from each parent can combine during fertilization to form diploid zygotes.  Meiosis is the specialized nuclear division whereby the chromosome number is reduced (from diploid to haploid number) in anticipation of fertilization.     During meiosis, homologous chromosomes pair up and exchange homologous segments.  The exchanges are vital to the production of functional gametes. I propose to study chromosome organization for the pairing up and exchange processes in the higher plant Arabidopsis thaliana, and to characterize the meiotic function of individual genes.     The work can further our understanding of the processes of chromosome pairing and reciprocal genetic exchange. Because these processes are vital to normal sexual reproduction, they are highly conserved.  Understanding meiosis in Arabidopsis can lead to a better understanding of meiosis in both plants and animals.  Errors in meiosis lead to the production of genetically imbalanced gametes that can lead to birth defects or death.  Understanding meiosis can also lead to better strategies for plant and livestock breeding programs.  Thus the proposed research on meiosis could impact upon such diverse problems as crop and livestock improvement, and understanding birth defects in humans.