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Evolutionary increase in genome size drives changes in cell biology and organ structure

dc.contributor.authorItgen, Michael Walter, author
dc.contributor.authorMueller, Rachel Lockridge, advisor
dc.contributor.authorSloan, Daniel B., committee member
dc.contributor.authorHoke, Kim L., committee member
dc.contributor.authorZhou, Wen, committee member
dc.date.accessioned2022-08-29T10:17:17Z
dc.date.available2023-08-22T10:17:17Z
dc.date.issued2022
dc.description.abstractThe evolution of large genome size has been associated with patterns of phenotypic change in cell and organismal biology. The most fundamental of these is between genome size and cell size, which share a strong positive and deterministic relationship. As a result, increases in cell size alter the structure and function of the cell. Genome and cell size, together, are hypothesized to produce emergent consequences on development and physiology at the cellular and organismal level. My dissertation aims to better understand these patterns and identify potential mechanisms underlying these phenotypic changes. I test for the effects of genome and cell size on cell function, cellular physiology, and organ morphology by leveraging the natural variation in genome size found in salamanders (Genus: Plethodon). First, I show that transcriptomic data supports the predictions that large genome and cell size has functional consequences on cell biology. I also reject the hypothesis that large cell size is functionally linked to lower metabolic rate at the cellular level, but I provide transcriptomic evidence that cell size alters the metabolic state of cells. Finally, I show that genome and cell size drives morphological change in organ-specific ways in the heart and liver. I conclude that large cell size does not lower metabolic rate in salamanders. As an alternative, I propose that the evolution of low metabolic rate lifts the constraint of cell size, thus permitting the evolution of genome gigantism.
dc.format.mediumborn digital
dc.format.mediumdoctoral dissertations
dc.identifierItgen_colostate_0053A_17339.pdf
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10217/235715
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherColorado State University. Libraries
dc.relation.ispartof2020-
dc.rightsCopyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.
dc.subjectgenome size
dc.subjectphysiology
dc.subjectcell biology
dc.subjectsalamanders
dc.subjectmorphology
dc.titleEvolutionary increase in genome size drives changes in cell biology and organ structure
dc.typeText
dcterms.embargo.expires2023-08-22
dcterms.embargo.terms2023-08-22
dcterms.rights.dplaThis Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights (https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/). You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
thesis.degree.disciplineBiology
thesis.degree.grantorColorado State University
thesis.degree.levelDoctoral
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

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