Chelsea  Smith,   '09 20
   Major: Biology
   Hometown: Berkley, MI

Sponsor(s): Sheila Lyons-Sobaski
Support: FURSCA-Robert J. Gardner Summer Research Endowment (Lagendyk), FURSCA-Jenny Banner Rone Environmental Research Annual Award (Smith)

Abstract: 
Eight microsatellite markers developed for Sabatia campestris were used to amplify microsatellite loci in three other species within the Sabatia genus, a group of annual or perennial herbaceous plants. Polymerase chain reactions (PCR) were optimized for all eight markers in the four species: S. campestris, S. angularis, S. formosa, and S. stellaris. Using fragment analysis, we found variation in amplification among different species. When markers amplified appropriate-sized PCR products, some products were polymorphic with some populations containing novel alleles. These genetic markers show promise to understand the population genetics of several species of Sabatia. This is of particular importance for the conservation of the genetic biodiversity of populations located at the edge of the species range which are often regionally threatened or endangered.

 20