Document: BAL-3-99-168

Using molecular techniques to ground ecological processes in physiological mechanisms.

BALDWIN, I.T.* 1 and J.BERGELSON 2

Max Plank Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jenna Germany 1
University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637-1651 USA 2

Abstract:
The expression of resistance characters is generally thought to involve a fitness cost, and the presumption of such costs is the cornerstone of explanations for the maintenance of variation in resistance. Costs of resistance are often difficult to detect, perhaps due in part to their sensitivity to ecological conditions and their interaction with genetic background. Model systems which are amendable to genetic transformation allow for the expression of new characters and the repression of old ones, and allow ecologists to explore the (complicated) physiological linkage between gene expression and its fitness consequences. Examples of expressing a new resistance character (herbicide resistance in Arabidopsis thaliana) and repressing an old one (nicotine production in native Nicotiana) will be used illustrate the two approaches.

Keywords: gene expression,fitness

 Abstracts by Session: Symposia, Oral, Poster
Abstracts Listed by Title/Reference Number
Schedule of Sessions in Chronological Order
Sr. Author and Co-Authors
Information updates, contact source
Snowbird 2000 Program Web Site
Snowbird Page on the ESA Web Site

This abstract is being presented at: 1:50 PM in session:
Symposium # 16: Plant Physiological Ecology: Linking the Organism to Scales Above and Below.