title: Using Arabidopsis to explore zinc tolerance and hyperaccumulation.
abstract: Identifying the particular gene or genes underlying a specific adaptation is a major challenge in modern biology. Currently, the study of naturally occurring variation in Arabidopsis thaliana provides a bridge between functional genetics and evolutionary analyses. Nevertheless, the use of A. thaliana to study adaptation is limited to those traits that have undergone selection. Therefore, to understand fully the genetics of adaptation, the vast arsenal of genetic resources developed in A. thaliana must be extended to other species that display traits absent in this model species. Here, we discuss how A. thaliana resources can significantly enhance the study of heavy-metal tolerance and hyperaccumulation in the wild species Arabidopsis halleri.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Génétique et Evolution des Populations Végétales, Unité Mixte de Recherche du Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (UMR 8016), CNRS, Université Lille 1, Villeneuve d'Ascq, France.
authors.forename: Nancy H C J
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Roosens
authors.forename: Glenda
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Willems
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Saumitou-Laprade
mesh_terms: D000220:Adaptation, Biological / Q000235:genetics*; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015032:Zinc