 |
|
 |
|
Monday Seminar: Feb. 12, 2007 Jeff Palmer, Indiana University "Horizontal Gene Transfer Gone Wild in Plant Mitochondrial Genomes" 4pm in Biosciences West (map), Room 301 Jeff Palmer, Indiana University, will be having a pizza lunch with interested graduate students at noon on Monday (BSW 302). There are a few slots available for people interested in talking with Dr. Palmer on Monday. Please contact Becky Nankivell (bjn@email.arizona.edu) to schedule a time. Howard Ochman is hosting Dr. Palmer. |
|
Talk Abstract: Recent studies have shown that plant mitochondrial genomes are unusually active in horizontal gene transfer (HGT). In this talk I will present unpublished data on an enormous plant mitochondrial genome that is far richer in HGT than even the most HGT-rich bacterial genome. Among other things, this genome has at least twice incorporated entire mitochondrial genomes from distantly related donors. Analysis of this genome leads us to propose a model explaining why mitochondrial genomes in plants are far more active in HGT than chloroplast genomes and probably nuclear genomes too. Unpublished data on other plants will show that many horizontal transfers give rise to chimeric genes in which pieces of foreign genes are pasted into native copies. Often these occur in very short patches, leading us to suggest that many apparently de novo mutations in plant mitochondrial genomes may in fact be the result of unrecognized microchimeric HGT. |
email the department 
email EEB tech support
email the webmaster EEB Help 
Search EEB
About EEB All contents copyright © 2003-2006 Arizona Board of Regents. All rights reserved. |