Plants and animals carry DNA in their mitochondria, in addition to the majority of genes that are carried on nuclear chromosomes. In flowering plants the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is often inherited from the mother only, such that the copies of mtDNA within an individual are identical. Recent studies of the plant Silene vulgaris showed that inheritance of mtDNA is sometimes from both the mother and father, resulting in a heterogeneous mix of mtDNA molecules in the offspring (heteroplasmy). This study will investigate the frequency of non-maternal inheritance of mtDNA through experimental crosses of S. vulgaris conducted in the greenhouse, and document the frequency and magnitude of heteroplasmy in natural populations, using the tools of molecular biology.

The results will be of value to population biologists because mtDNA is used as a genetic marker in many types of studies, under the assumption of maternal inheritance. This assumption has only been tested directly in relatively few species, and the consequences of non-maternal inheritance are not well understood. The results will also interest applied biologists whose goal is to develop lines of economically important plants that produce a high proportion of females for breeding purposes, given that sex determination in plants is often traced to mitochondrial genes.

Agency
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Institute
Division of Environmental Biology (DEB)
Application #
0621867
Program Officer
Samuel M. Scheiner
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
2006-09-15
Budget End
2011-08-31
Support Year
Fiscal Year
2006
Total Cost
$459,994
Indirect Cost
Name
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Nashville
State
TN
Country
United States
Zip Code
37240