Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
http://hdl.handle.net/11375/9281
Title: | THE EFFECT OF ENVIRONMETAL FACTORS ON HYBRID FITNESS IN CRYPTOCOCCUS NEOFORMUNS |
Authors: | Shahid, Morvarid |
Advisor: | Xu, Jianping |
Department: | Biology |
Publication Date: | Jun-2006 |
Abstract: | <p>Recent population genetic studies have revealed that there are multiple natural hybridizations among divergent lineages in the human pathogenic fungus <em>Cryptococcus neoformans</em>. However, the biological and phenotypic effects of such hybridization are little understood. In this study, we constructed a laboratory cross between two genetically diverged strains; chosen because they differed in growth at different temperature and medium conditions and in their susceptibilities to the common antifungal drug Fluconazole. Our analyses indicated evidence of environment-specific outbreeding depression and intermediate phenotypes in the hybrid population of <em>C. neoformans</em>. A variable number of progeny displayed evidence of transgressive segregation. With increasing drug concentration, the relative fitness of transgressive hybrids also increased. The analyses showed that the progeny population had a greater phenotypic plasticity than the parental strains. Our study suggested that hybridization can playa significant role in the evolution of this important human pathogenic fungus.</p> |
URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/11375/9281 |
Identifier: | opendissertations/4418 5438 2042942 |
Appears in Collections: | Open Access Dissertations and Theses |
Files in This Item:
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fulltext.pdf | 3.94 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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