| Abstract Detail
Genetics Section Stokes, Richard [1], Culley, Theresa M. [2]. A Novel Approach to Study Gene Flow Between Color Forms of the Tetraploid Species Erythronium americanum. Erythronium americanum (yellow trout lily or dog-toothed violet) is a spring ephemeral plant inhabiting temperate deciduous forests of the eastern United States. Within the species, two color forms exist, one exhibiting brown-purplish anthers and one with yellow anthers. Little is known about the genetics of the two color forms, including their genetic structure and potential for hybridization. One reason for the scarcity of information is the complexity behind the genetic make-up of the species. Like many other plants, E. americanum is a polyploid, which makes it difficult to use codominant molecular markers, such as microsatellites. With microsatellite analysis, data is interpreted from an electropherogram that represents the different sizes of microsatellite DNA fragments. Analysis of electropherograms from diploid organisms is distinct, with each allele represented by sets of peaks. However, when studying organisms with higher ploidy levels, elctropherograms are more difficult to elucidate due to variable interpretation of the multiple peaks. This research uses a novel approach to microsatellite analysis of polyploidy plants by using the DNA amplified from single grains of pollen. By sampling from the gametes, it enables easier interpretation of electropherograms by presenting the tetraploids as diploids for analysis. The data produced from this analysis will determine whether or not gene flow is occurring within and between the two color forms of E. americanum, which could an important first step in determining if the two color form should be consider separate species.
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1 - University of Cincinnati, Department of Biological Sciences, 614 Rieveschl, Cincinnati, OH, 45221, USA
2 - University of Cincinnati, Department of Biological Sciences, 614 Rieveschl Hall, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45221, USA
Keywords:
population genetics
Erythronium
Erythronium americanum
Trout Lily
microsatellites
gene flow.
Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Sections
Session: P
Location: Exhibit Hall (Northeast, Southwest & Southeast)/Hilton
Date: Sunday, July 8th, 2007
Time: 8:00 AM
Number: P51004
Abstract ID:2150 |
