Poster: Comparative Genomics

Abs # 924: The Floral Genome Project – comparative analysis of sequence and expression of florally expressed genes.

Presenter:	dePamphilis, C. W., cwd3@psu.edu
Authors	dePamphilis, C. W. (A)   Ma, H.  (A)   Soltis, D.  (B)   Soltis, P.  (B)   Carlson, J.  (A)   Tanksley, S.  (C)   Leebens-Mack, J.  (A)   Farmerie, W.  (B)   Frohlich, M.  (E)   Field, D.  (F)   Zahn, L.  (A)   Kong, H.  (A)   Kim, S.  (B)   Buzgo, M  (B)   Arrington, J.  (A)   Oppenheimer, D.  (D)   Doyle, J.  (C)   Albert, V.  (G)   Miller, W.  (A)   Theissen, G.  (H)
Affiliations:	(A): Penn State University (B): University of Florida (C): Cornell University (D): University of Alabama (E): British Museum of Natural History (F): C.E.H. Oxford (G): University of Oslo (H): University of Jena
Web Site:	http://www.floralgenome.org

Much of the knowledge on the genes controlling flower development is derived from studies in several model plants. The Floral Genome Project (FGP) aims to identify florally expressed genes from 13 angiosperm species that occupy important phylogenetic positions, and reproductive genes of two gymnosperm species. Thousands of ESTs will be generated per species and a subset of complete cDNA sequences will be determined. Phylogenetic analysis will be performed with multiple gene families to identify homologs of known floral regulatory genes and to uncover new floral genes and gene families. Microarray and in situ hybridization will be used to determine their expression patterns. The FGP sequence and expression data will be compared with data from other species to derive a consensus set of floral regulators. At the same time, genes that might be specific to a lineage or responsible for distinctive structural properties will be identified and characterized. Progress during the first 1.5 years will be presented and their implications for the conservation and divergence of floral regulators will be discussed.