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Abstract

Comparative genetic mapping analysis has been used extensively to study
and understand genome organization and evolution at the macro level,
however, due to limited marker density, exceptions to colinearity at the
microlevel will be overlooked. This limitation can be overcome by large scale
sequencing efforts. We are interested in patterns of sequence conservation
and divergence at loci controlling flowering time. Here, we present initial data
focusing on the region containing the FRIGIDA gene between Arabidopsis
thaliana, Arabidopsis halleri, Boechera (syn. Arabis) drummondii and Capsella
rubella. We shot-gun sequenced BACs containing the FRIGIDA gene from
all three species. An initial analysis reveals conservation of synteny between
the species that are being compared. This is in agreement with what has
been reported for other regions of A. thaliana and C. rubella. However, the
study also reveals that the present location of the FRIGIDA gene on top of
chromosome 4 in the Arabidopsis thaliana genome is a very recent event.
We are carrying out further analysis to map this transposition event on an
evolutionary time scale.