Plant microRNA evolution and mechanisms of shape change in plants

Plant microRNAs have been shown to have important roles in regulating diverse processes ranging from reproductive development to stress response. In the first two chapters, I focus on miRNA diversity in Aquilegia studying both anciently evolved broadly conserved and rapidly evolving species specific miRNAs. In chapter one, I utilize Aquilegia's critical phylogenetic position between the well developed models Arabidopsis thaliana and Oryza sativa to study the evolution of ancient miRNAs across the angiosperms. In chapter two, I utilize smallRNA high-throughput sequencing to annotate Aquilegia specific miRNAs and, in the process, uncover the novel regulation of a floral homeotic gene by an Aquilegia-specific miRNA.