Chris Muir, an assistant professor in the Department of Botany, is part of a team that received a three-year $1.3 million award ($352,9997 to UW-Madison) from the National Science Foundation (NSF).
The project, Evolutionary and functional genomics of Hawaiian Bidens: determining the genetic basis of phenotypic trait diversification in a rapid adaptive radiation, is in collaboration with Matthew Knope from the University of Hawaii-Hilo and Daniel Jones from Auburn University.
Describing the significance of the science, Dr. Muir noted “In biology, adaptive radiations are when a lineage splits into many morphologically and ecologically diverse species, often in response to a large number of empty ecological niches. The remote oceanic archipelago of Hawaiʻi is globally unique for the number of adaptive radiations that have resulted in a diverse assemblage of species often found nowhere else in the world. A major challenge is identifying the key genetic and developmental changes that occur during adaptive radiation. My collaborators and I will help fill this gap by combining our expertise in genomics, developmental biology, and evolution in Hawaiian Bidens, a group of species in the sunflower family.”
You might be wondering if the plant genus Bidens (a Latin word) has anything to do with President Joe Biden. “We joked about making #RidinWithBidens go viral” said Dr. Muir, adding that “While we welcome good vibes from Joe, the actual reason we chose this group is because of its morphological variation in biologically important flower, seed, and leaf traits, as well as newer genomic and genetic tools.”
The NSF award will support training of graduate and undergraduate students UW-Madison. Dr. Muir’s lab will also host exchange students from Hawaiʻi to train them on cutting edge plant ecophysiology that can advance their careers.
Will Badgers get a chance to see these exotic Bidens, known as ko`oko`olau in Hawaiian, around Madison? “These tropical plants won’t survive our winters, but we’ll be growing them by the thousands in greenhouses. I would be delighted to show them to students and talk about their unique biology” said Dr. Muir.