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Abstract Detail


Evolutionary Developmental Biology (Evo-Devo)

Walker, Sheryl A. [1], Tucker, Rebecca C.  [1], Zanis, Michael, J. [1].

Patterns of Molecular Evolution Across Developmental Genes in Zizania Species (North American wild rice).

Identifying the patterns and processes shaping developmental pathways is crucial to understanding the diversification of morphological change in a species. An important first step is to characterize the distribution of molecular variation across developmental genetic loci and examine how this variation is patterned within and between species. We are using North American wild rice, Zizania sp. to understand inter- and intra-specific genetic variation in genes that regulate organ initiation and plant architecture. Our research leverages knowledge from developmental genetic studies done on rice and maize in identifying genes important for plant morphogenesis. We are examining DNA sequence variation (coding and non-coding changes) in genes that encode transcription factors (MADS-box genes, YABBY, AP2, BHLH, TCP, HDZIP, ERF, MYBs) and/or signaling proteins (kinases, orthologs of BIF2, and auxin biosynthesis enzymes including YUCCAs and PINs). Our results indicate that some regulatory genes show high levels of inter- and intra-specific coding changes while others carry very little genetic variation. This work has resulted in the identification of several candidate genes that might underlie interspecific morphological variation between species of Zizania. We are currently linking this molecular variation to population biology factors such as loss of habitat, population fragmentation, and declines in population size that may play a role in shaping the molecular diversity in genes regulating morphogenesis in Zizania sp.

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1 - Purdue University, Botany and Plant Pathology, 915 West State Street, West Lafayette, IN, 47907

Keywords:
Zizania
genetic variation
morphology
transcription factors.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Topics
Session: 5
Location: 554A/Convention Center
Date: Monday, August 2nd, 2010
Time: 9:30 AM
Number: 5005
Abstract ID:561


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