Tetraploid Origin of the Maize Genome
Author Information
Author(s): Zuzana Swigonova, Jinsheng Lai, Jianxin Ma, Wusirika Ramakrishna, Victor Llaca, Jeffrey L. Bennetzen, Joachim Messing
Primary Institution: Waksman Institute of Microbiology, Rutgers University
Hypothesis
The study investigates the polyploid history of maize and its origin as a tetraploid.
Conclusion
The study concludes that maize likely originated from a tetraploid event approximately 11.9 million years ago.
Supporting Evidence
- Data from genetic mapping studies suggest maize arose as a tetraploid.
- Previous studies proposed different models for maize's origin, with one suggesting a segmental allotetraploid origin.
- Phylogenetic analyses indicated that the two maize progenitors diverged from each other at about the same time as they diverged from sorghum.
Takeaway
Scientists think maize came from two plants that mixed together a long time ago, making it a tetraploid with extra genes.
Methodology
The study involved sequencing duplicated chromosomal regions from maize and comparing them with orthologous regions in sorghum and rice.
Limitations
The exact mode of maize's origin remains unclear, and some conclusions are tentative due to the difficulty in assessing orthology.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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