Document Type

Thesis

Date of Degree Completion

Spring 2007

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science

Department

Biology

Committee Chair

Dr. Linda Raubeson, Department of Biology

Second Committee Member

Dr. Andrew A. Piacsek, Science Honors Research Program Director

Abstract

While the use of complete chloroplast genome sequences in plant classification and phylogenetic studies has increased dramatically since the publication of the first genome in 1986, the position of the Gnetales within seed plants had been problematic due to lack of data. Here I report on the first Gnetalean to have its chloroplast genome sequenced, Welwitschia mirabilis. the genome is 119,726 base pairs in length, displaying large and small single copy regions (LSC and SSC), two copies of an inverted repeat region (IR), and contains only 99 unique gene species. The genome is the most compact genome sequenced to date, with 66% of the genome coding for product. The genome also contains rapidly diverging genes, with all gene species analyzed evolving at a faster rate than exhibited by other studied plant taxa, at rates nearly three times the average sampled. The genome also shows at least moderate rearrangement, with an expanded inverted repeat, and several genes lost or present only as pseudogenes.

Comments

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