| Abstract Detail
Evolution of Development and Physiology Moore, Richard C. [1]. The evolutionary origin of plant roots. Developmental genetic data suggest that there has been a duplication of the devolopmental module required for maintenance of stem cells in the root and shoot apical meristems. A number of key regulatory genes involved in maintenance of the shoot apical meristem exist in duplicate and perform similar functions in the root. Thus, it is possible that gene duplication, followed by functional divergence, contributed to the origin of roots from a shoot-like telome. We used molecular evolutionary analyses to date the duplication events of three key regulators of stem cells in the shoot apical meristem: CLAVATA1, CLAVATA3, and WUSCHEL. Our analysis suggests that the duplication events that gave rise to the root-specific duplcates of these genes occurred after roots orginated. Therefore, gene duplication of regulatory genes did not necessarily contribute to the origin of roots. Log in to add this item to your schedule
1 - Miami University, Botany, 316 Pearson Hall, Oxford, OH, 45056, USA
Keywords: evo-devo root development shoot development phylogenetics molecular evolution.
Presentation Type: Plant Biology Abstract Session: P Location: Exhibit Hall (Northeast, Southwest & Southeast)/Hilton Date: Sunday, July 8th, 2007 Time: 8:00 AM Number: P27017 Abstract ID:2653 |