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Developmental Genetics of Allometric Variation Between Species

Reference	BBS/E/J/0000A248
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Enrico Coen
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	John Innes Centre
Department	John Innes Centre Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	125,929
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	11/08/2005
End date	10/08/2008
Duration	36 months

Abstract

Much of the variation between species and varieties involves correlated differences in shape and size (allometric variation). Despite its important, little is known of the genetic or developmental basis of such allometric differences. We will build on our work on shape and size variation between closely related species of Antirrhinum, using complementary genetic, developmental and computational approaches to analyse the processes underlying natural allometric variation. (1) Plants carrying individual allometry genes in a uniform background will be used to analyse how organ shape and size changes with development in different genotypes. Computational methods will be developed to describe such changes quantitatively in both 2D and 3D. The observed allometric changes will be related to regional differences in growth, determined by clonal analysis and tracking of landmarks, and to the cell proliferation and expansion involved in this growth (2) To examine allometric variation in a wider context, we will analyse F2 populations from further species crosses, and introduce alleles carried by different species at key allometric loci into a uniform background to compare their effects. (3) Different combinations of allometry genes, in hybrid populations and in a uniform genetic background, will be used to assess how they interact to determine shape and size. (4) The relationship between heteroblasty (variation in leaf shape and size with position on the plant) and allometric variation between genotypes will be examined using a combination of genetic, computational and developmental methods. (5) Key allometry loci will be fine-mapped and transposon-mutagenesised with a view to isolating the corresponding genes.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Genes & Developmental Biology (GDB)
Research Topics	Plant Science
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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