REU Supplement: CAREER: Evolutionary Research and Education at CSU

Grants and Contracts Details

Description

I request summer stipend support for one undergraduate researcher (Jonathan Hobbs) in the Department of Biology at University of Kentucky. Jonathan will quantify the extent to which genetic resources that we have developed for two model ambystomatid species (A. t. tigrinum and A. mexicanum) can be extended to other ambystomatid species. Relatively little DNA sequence has been obtained from closely related species of model organisms, and yet, such extensions would powerfully enable genetic studies of natural phenotypes, population structures, and species boundaries. Ambystoma is an excellent model system because multiple, recently derived lineages offer a diversity of life history characteristics for genetic study, including the conspicuous expression of metamorphosis and paedomorphosis. We have characterized single nucleotide polymorphisms from 123 orthologous A. mexicanum and A. t. tigrinum ESTs and have designed PCR primer pairs that yield amplification products of the expected sizes. Jonathan will attempt to extend this information to other ambystomatid salamanders species by performing PCR and confirming results by DNA sequencing. This work should result in a very nice publication that will inform molecular, developmental, evolutionary, and ecological research communities. In addition to laboratory work, Jonathan will attend weekly lab meetings to accomplish two objectives. First, he will be introduced to basic concepts of evolutionary developmental biology and molecular evolution, through readings of current journal articles. Second, he will discuss progress towards accomplishing his research objectives. Overall, the proposed REU activity will provide research experience in molecular biology, development, genetics, and bioinformatics.
StatusFinished
Effective start/end date5/11/047/31/06

Funding

  • National Science Foundation

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