Poster: Education

Abs # 23: Use of glutamine synthetase gene sequences as a tool for learning about plant phylogeny at the molecular level.

Presenter:	Twigg, Paul G, twiggp@unk.edu
Authors	Twigg, Paul G (A)   Walters, Lisa A (A)   Seely, Heather D (A)
Affiliations:	(A): University of Nebraska-Kearney

Molecular phylogenetic comparisons of plants are typically done using rbcL and 18S rRNA gene sequence data. In this study, we outline another useful tool in assessing these relationships. We have found that sequences of glutamine synthetase genes provide the ability to examine phylogenetic relationships over a broad range of levels. While this type of data can be useful at many levels, we have found to it be particularly useful at fine levels. We will demonstrate this assertion using a variety of plants belonging to a variety of classes and orders, but also at a finer level using plants in the Fabaceae. The Fabaceae are generally considered to be a phylogenetically cohesive group of plants. Within this family however are as many as thirty-five subfamilies and tribes. Discriminating amongst these taxa at the morphological level can be a daunting task. From sequencing of our own glutamine synthetase products and collection of others from sequence databases, we will demonstrate the placement of plants within these groupings at the molecular level. Similarly, we will briefly consider the use of glutamine synthetase sequence data in the phylogeny of nitrogen fixing plants, and members of the Asteraceae. This type of tool can be very useful in demonstrating phylogenetic relationships in our research, and also in the classroom for upper level undergraduate and graduate student plant taxonomy courses. This project was partially supported by NIH Grant Number 1 P20 RR16469 from the BRIN Program of the National Center for Research Resources, by the UNK Council for Undergraduate Research, and by the UNK Department of Biology.