Posted 29 Jun 2010 - 16:21 by Genetics Administrator
The domestication of maize has resulted in striking morphological differences between maize and its wild progenitor, teosinte. These dramatic differences are partially controlled by the gene teosinte branched1 (tb1). The work presented will focus on studying the cis regulatory elements that are located far upstream of tb1. The elements produce a two fold higher expression of tb1 in maize when compared to teosinte. Both classical and molecular genetic approaches are being used to study the complex regulation developed during domestication. Evidence will be presented which shows that two transposable element insertions 60kb upstream of tb1 are responsible for the regulation difference between maize and teosinte. By studying the regulation of tb1 we hope to use the domestication of maize as a model to better understand the evolution of regulatory elements controlling complex traits, as well as how phenotypic diversity is generated on which evolutionary selection can then act.
