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Progress and challenges in studies of the evolution of development
1Department of Biology, University of Missouri-St Louis, St Louis, MO 63121, USA. tkellogg@umsl.edu
Journal of Experimental Botany
|September 23, 2006
Summary
Plant evolutionary developmental genetics (EDG) advances with sequence data, but identifying functional gene changes remains challenging. Large-scale gene expression studies are crucial for future progress in understanding plant evolution.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Developmental genetics
- Plant science
Background:
- Plant evolutionary developmental genetics (EDG) has progressed significantly due to increased sequence data.
- Sequence data aids in robust phylogenies and molecular evolution assessments.
- Identifying genes with altered functions evolutionarily using sequence data has proven difficult.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the progress and challenges in plant evolutionary developmental genetics.
- To highlight the utility and limitations of sequence-based and expression-based analyses.
- To identify future research needs in the field.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of sequence data for phylogenies and molecular evolution.
- Comparative gene expression studies.
- Discussion of transformation experiments and their interpretation.
Main Results:
- Coding sequences are largely under purifying selection, suggesting regulatory changes drive evolution.
- Regulatory sequence analysis remains challenging.
- Comparative gene expression studies are valuable for identifying evolutionary changes in developmental gene roles.
Conclusions:
- While sequence data is abundant, identifying functional evolutionary changes in genes is complex.
- Comparative gene expression studies are critical for EDG.
- Massive-scale gene expression studies are the immediate need for advancing plant EDG.
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