Solving Long Standing Problems with New Techniques

Project Goals
Although previous molecular phylogenetic studies have found strong support for relationships among some orders of Anthozoa, key regions of the tree remain very poorly resolved (see figure below).  We will construct a well-resolved molecular phylogeny using ultraconserved elements (http://ultraconserved.org/) and their flanking regions to understand character evolution within the group. Funded by NSF DEB. 
 To begin UCE discovery, we are sequencing eight new Anthozoan genomes (see genomic resources). Currently, there are few genomes that have been sequenced from across the clade. 
We will design probes to target 100s to 1000s of UCEs and their flanking regions. Using these newly designed probes, we will sequence at least 192 species from across the clade. These probes will be made freely available. 

Skeletal type mapped on a phylogeny of Anthozoans, inferred from 18S, 16S, and 28S rDNA (Data from Cnidarian TOL project).

Funding
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant Number NSF DEB 1457817 

Contact us 
 AnthozoanUCEs {at} gmail.com 


Photo Credits; C. McFadden and the NOAA Okeanos Explorer Program