The document summarizes a student's summer research project studying genetic adaptation of the plant Mimulus guttatus to serpentine soils. The goals of the project were to identify molecular mechanisms underlying serpentine adaptation, understand the basis of these mechanisms, and gain insights into how plants may respond to future environmental changes. The student conducted experiments such as breeding plants, tissue collection, PCR genotyping, and plate experiments to analyze genes responsible for serpentine adaptation and differences in survival on various serpentine soils. Preliminary findings found higher survivorship in serpentine plants and genotyping results for further analysis.

1. The genetic basis of adaptation to
serpentine soils in Mimulus guttatus
Winnie Biwott
Duke University
Trinity ’15

2. • Plant Evolutionary work
• Willis Lab at Duke University
• Mentors:
1. Dr. John Willis
2. Jessica Selby ( Graduate Student)
3. Ben Blackman ( postdoc Student)

3. Goals before project
• Conduct a study to identify the molecular mechanisms
underlying serpentine adaptation across populations
of the wildflower M. guttatus
• Understand the molecular basis of these molecular
mechanisms that adapt M. guttatus to its present day
environment.
• Get insight into how plants may respond to future
shifts in these conditions

4. …continued
• Acquire solid foundational information on plant adaptation and
genetics.
• Immerse myself in intense plant reserch with professional in the
field
• Improve my research skills, for example, teamwork, concentration,
critical thinking,problem solving, analysis, communication

5. Why is this project important?
• Results are useful for crop breeding to improve plants’ tolerance to
poor or stressful soils and alter plant nutrient uptake to produce
enriched foods
• A characterization of the genetic/ mechanistic bases of plant growth
on heavy metal soils can be applied to the treatment of
environmental soil problems like salinization

6. Tasks during project
• Breeding M.guttatus in the greenhouse
• Tissue collection
• Genotype plants by conducting PCR (Polymerase Chain Reactions)
to find genes responsible for serpentine adaptations

7. …continued
• Conducting plate experiments to narrow speculations on genes
responsible and to study differences in different serpentile soils

8. Findings/final product
• Higher survivorship in serpentine plants than non- serpentine
plants
• Genotyping results for our PCR experiment for analysis

10. Acknowledgements
• My mentors were Dr. John Willis, Jessica Selby and Ben Blackman
• Funding for the summer research was by Karsh International
Scholarship