Swiss Orchid Research Award 2011 (SORA)
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Dr. Lucienne de Witte
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Project
"The changing role of homeotic mutants in orchid evolution — Hopeless case or hopeful monster?"
How fundamental novelties or changes in body plans originate during evolution is still controver
sial among biologists. The Modern Synthesis explains how gradual process by natural selection can
be responsible for micro- and even macro-evolution. Homeotic mutants, however, that are able to
establish stable populations in a natural environment, so-called "hopeful monsters", prove that a
saltational mode of character change is a potential alternative mechanism for speciation. Homeosis
is a result of changes in developmental genes and is a type of variation in which "something has
been changed into the likeness of something else". In the homeotic mutant Coelogyne leungiana
(Orchidaceae), the second perianth whorl of the flower has changed organ identity compared to the
wildtype C. fimbriata: petals and lip are sepal-like. This morphological change was found to correlate with differences in organ development, in shape of epidermal cells and a different expression of
MADS-box B class genes involved in floral development. An assessment of the evolutionary status
of the homeotic mutant identified it as a hopeful monster and the data also indicate that homeosis
may be a more common driver of speciation in orchids than generally assumed.
SORA Sponsors 2011
The Swiss Orchid Foundation wishes to thank the following companies for sponsoring the Swiss Orchid
Research Award 2011 (in alphabetical order):
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Swiss Orchid Research Award
