Molecular Systematics of Bryophytes: Progress, Problems, and perspectives

A two day conference will be held on September 6 and 7, 2003, at the Missouri Botanical Garden, co-sponsored by the Deep Gene Research Coordination Network. The event is organized by Bernard Goffinet (University of Connecticut) and Robert Magill (Missouri Botanical Garden).

The three genomes of plant cells comprise a variety of loci that differ in their degree of differentiation among taxa, and rate of evolution between lineages. Furthermore, the methodologies to access the genetic information improve continuously allowing for many types of specific genetic data to be targeted for higher numbers of samples. Parallel to these changes, phylogenetic theory is evolving and the analytical tools are dramatically improving, too. As more data can be gathered and critically analyzed, researchers focus increasingly on testing evolutionary hypotheses based on variation in molecular markers. The contribution of molecular data is significant particularly when homology of morphological characters is ambiguous (i.e. across land plants or major lineages of bryophytes), or when morphological differentiation is weak or subtle (cryptic speciation along geographical of ecological gradients).

Twenty-five invited speakers from all continents will offer an overview of the recent contributions of molecular markers to our understanding of bryophyte systematics, from their significance in the evolution of land plants, to reconstructions of phylogenetic or genealogical relationships among taxa or populations of bryophytes. Some of the talks are:

Molecular and morphological diversification in the hornworts, an ancient land plant lineage (Joel Duff)

Cryptic speciation and mechanisms of reproductive isolation within Polytrichum commune s.l. as revealed by molecular markers (Marco Van der Velde)

Molecular population genetics of the delta-6 fatty acid desaturase gene in Ceratodon purpureus: functional and evolutionary implications (Stuart McDaniel)

Molecular phylogeny and phylogeography of the Plagiochilaceae (Jochen Heinrichs)

http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/MSB/

We encourage students (defined broadly to include undergraduates, graduates, and postdoctoral fellows) interested in presenting results of their studies at the Molecular Systematics Symposium or Moss 2003, to contact Bernard Goffinet (goffinet@uconn.edu). Financial support for students is available to attend the two conferences through funding by the Deep Gene network and the Missouri Botanical Garden. Click here for further details.

On-line registration and abstract submission for this conference will be open soon. The deadline for the submission of abstracts will be June 29, 2003.

 

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