The Function and Evolution of the Immune System in A. thaliana

The plant immune system comprises a large family of resistance genes, many of which harbor extensive polymorphism. The evolutionary dynamics of resistance loci vary, driven by an interplay between ecological interactions, genetic architecture and underlying molecular mechanisms.

In this Presidential Lecture, Joy Bergelson will discuss her lab’s work on the evolution of resistance genes in A. thaliana, also known as the mouse-ear cress. She will summarize how selection acts on individual resistance loci and consider how resistance genes interact to form a robust immune system. A long-term goal of the Bergelson Lab is to understand the evolution of resistance as a system of immune receptors.