9300083 Strauss The goal of this research is to test the usefulness of mitochondrial DNA as a marker of population differentiation in plants. Preliminary studies of mitochondrial DNA variation in pines have indicated that very strong differentiation can exist in the presence of weak nuclear gene (allozyme) differentiation. This observation will be rigorously examined via nuclear and mitochondrial DNA-RFLP analysis using cloned and PCR-derived hybridization probes, respectively. A marker that is highly sensitive to population differences could aid conservation biologists when choosing among populations for inclusion in a conservation program--as well as have many other uses in plant population biology and breeding. %%% The study will employ the California Closed-Cone Pines (Pinus attenuata, P. muricata, and P. radiata) as a model system. This group has been the subject of extensive population genetic and systematic studies over several decades--most recently for allozyme, chloroplast DNA, and coxI mitochondrial DNA polymorphism. %%% If time permits, work will begin to develop methods that rely exclusively on PCR for studying mitochondrial DNA polymorphism. Such a method would be as easy to conduct as isozyme studies, and thus increase the extent to which operational conservation programs could use mitochondrial DNA studies in identifying populations for protection or sampling. uct as isozyme studies, and thus increase the extent to which operational conservation programs could use mitochondrial DNA studies in identifying populatio ns for protection 1 - / 1 ! ! ! ! h ! F 1 1 ( Times New Roman Symbol & Arial " h N N - Gayle Edmonds Gayle Edmonds
