The evolution of flower development: current understanding and future challenges

摘要: One of the most fascinating questions in evolutionary biology is understanding how novelties such as new organs or novel body plans arise. Answering this question all more challenging obvious predecessors cannot always be identified incomplete fossil record. Evolutionary developmental (evo-devo) studies address issue by examining mechanisms have evolved over time. To undertake studies, rigorous assessment trait homology (i.e. inherited from a common ancestral trait) necessary, and can now conducted robust phylogenetic framework thanks to remarkable recent progress molecular systematics (e.g. APG III, 2009; Moore et al., 2010). Close examination sequence events underlying homologous traits, genes regulating changes, critical our present state evolution biodiversity. Indeed, emergence very often coincides with rise wealth species, suggesting that evo-devo concepts revolutionize macro-evolutionary events. The flower doubtlessly beautiful example an innovation believed been major contributor diversification angiosperms. Flowering plants nowadays dominate terrestrial ecosystems and, food source, are outstanding importance for mankind. Floral structure generally conserved four main organ types (sepals, petals, stamens carpel); however, variation on theme breathtaking. include abortion organs, radial versus bilateral symmetry, whorled spiral phyllotaxis, dramatic variations colour, arrangement, number size floral even extra as, example, genus Aquilegia. In recognition advances involved phenotypes, gathers together eleven articles contributing field ‘flower evo-devo’, which represent diverse approaches ranging morphological comparative analyses important regulators, gene function analysis non-model plants.