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One of the surprises that has resulted from the sequencing of many eukaryotic genomes is the extent to which duplicated copies of individual genes have persisted over long time periods. The occurrence of gene duplication is integral to many long-standing questions in biology that previously could not be addressed on a comprehensive scale. What could be the selective advantage of having two copies of a gene that, at birth, are identical? How, and how frequently, are the imbalances associated with such duplication resolved to advantage? What are the ultimate fates of duplicated genes? How do some taxa deal with repeated duplication(s) of not just single genes but large chromosomal segments, whole chromosomes, or even their entire genomes? What relationship do such large-scale or whole-genome duplications have with the generation of biological diversity? We seek to elucidate the consequences of gene and genome duplication, engaging elements of ecology, phylogeny, genomics, development/expression, and population genetics in integrated, interdisciplinary study of carefully chosen taxa. We will utilize genomic sequences to design experiments that permit testing of specific predictions from population genetic theory, thus either clothing theory with strong empirical support, or demonstrating the need for revision of theory to account for unanticipated biological factors. The main outcome is expected to be definitive answers to fundamental questions about the role of gene duplication in evolutionary diversification. There is an excellent overview of polyploidy and its importance here. |
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