title: Understanding the development and evolution of novel floral form in Aquilegia.
abstract: Flowers of the lower eudicot Aquilegia (columbine) possess morphological innovations, namely elaborate petal spurs and a fifth distinct organ identity, the staminodium, that are well suited to the investigation of key questions in developmental evolution. The recent evolution of these characteristics combined with a growing set of genetic and genomic resources has provided insight into how the traits arose and diversified. The petal spur appears to represent a key innovation that diversified largely via modification of specific aspects of cell expansion. In the case of the staminodium, gene duplication has played a role in allowing a novel organ identity to be carved out of the traditional ABC program.
authors: Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, 16 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
authors: Bharti
authors: B
authors: Sharma
authors: Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, 16 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
authors: Levi
authors: L
authors: Yant
authors: Department of Ecology, Evolution & Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9610, USA.
authors: Scott A
authors: SA
authors: Hodges
authors: Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, 16 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA. Electronic address: ekramer@oeb.harvard.edu.
authors: Elena M
authors: EM
authors: Kramer
mesh_terms: D031884:Aquilegia / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D035264:Flowers / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D020440:Gene Duplication; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D014644:Genetic Variation; D010802:Phylogeny; D010858:Pigmentation / Q000235:genetics*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D010940:Plant Proteins