Investigation of the BARREN STALK1 gene lineage in graminoid Poales

Daniel Woods

rice corn

Outline

1) Introduction into field of Evolutionary Developmental Genetics and Grasses

2)What’s BARREN STALK1

3) Hypothesis/aims

4) Preliminary Data

rice

corn

Graminoid Poales

?

phylogenetics

morphologicaldevelopment

molecular evolution

functional analyses

gene expression

Chasmanthium (CEN) inflorescence development

barren stalk1 (ba1) phenotypeWild-type tassel ba1-ref WT meristem ba1-mum1

Gallavotti, A., et al. (2004). Nature 432(7017): 630-5

Gallavotti, A., et al. (2004). Nature 432(7017): 630-5

Rice (OsLAX)Maize (ZmBA1)

BA1/LAX expression via in situ hybridization

Gallavotti, A., et al. (2004), Nature 432(7017): 630-5 Komatsu, K., et al. (2003). Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 100(20): 11765-70

Hypotheses:

1) BA1 duplication event occurred at base of grass family

2) BA1 is expressed in branching primordia throughout inflorescence development

Specific aims to test hypothesis

1) Isolate BA1 bHLH genes from diverse array of grasses and near grass relatives

2) Generate phylogenies to pinpoint duplication event

3) Document inflorescence development using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)

4) Gene Expression Analysis via in situ hybridization

BEP PACCMAD

Gene Isolation and Preparation

Extractions Primer Design

Polymerase Chain Reaction(Semi-nested)

Gel Extraction

Ligation

Clone

PCR screen

Alkaline lysis

Sequence(Sanger)

Generate Phylogenies

Maximum Parsimony

Maximum Likelihood

Bayesian