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UID:2026090511130220260310T12300020260310T1330006a9bf93ee339d@uic.edu
CATEGORIES:MEETING
STATUS:TENTATIVE
DTSTAMP:20260108T030552
DTSTART:20260310T123000
DTEND:20260310T133000
SUMMARY:E&E Seminar: "The Pace of Plant Life: How Life History Shapes Genomic and Phenotypic Evolution" by Stephen Smith (University of Michigan)
DESCRIPTION:Join us March 10th, 2026 at 12:30pm in SELE 4289 for "The Pace of Plant Life: How Life History Shapes Genomic and Phenotypic Evolution" by Stephen Smith (University of Michigan)    Host: Boris Igic    Abstract: Plants span orders of magnitude in lifespan and generation time, from annual weeds to millennia-old conifers, yet the evolutionary consequences of this variation remain poorly understood. This talk presents evidence that life history is a major driver of large-scale patterns in molecular and phenotypic evolution. Using phylogenomic data across angiosperms as well as simulations, I show that longevity and age at first reproduction explain genome-wide differences in substitution rates between woody and herbaceous plants, with important implications for divergence time estimation. These rate differences also generate extensive gene-tree conflict in long-lived lineages. Beyond molecular evolution, phenotypic rates of climate occupancy correspond more closely to absolute time than to generation time, suggesting that apparent rate shifts on molecular trees often reflect underlying changes in life history rather than ecological diversification. I will discuss analyses of a recent large angiosperm phylogeny that reveal long-term biome shifts and trends. Together, these results suggest that many previously attributed evolutionary patterns are fundamentally shaped by the pace of plant life. | Event post: https://bios.uic.edu/events?page_id=12273
LOCATION:SELE 4289    Select 
CLASS:PRIVATE
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