Meeting Abstract

118.5  Monday, Jan. 7  Physiological Constraints on the Genome Size of Species GILLOOLY, JF; University of Florida gillooly@ufl.edu

Biologists have long sought to explain the over 3000-fold variation in genome size among animals. Cell size is perhaps the only phenotypic trait that has been shown to be correlated with genome size across diverse taxa, but it remains unclear whether cell size constrains genome size or vice versa. Here I present a model that aims to predict genome size based on how physical chemistry constrains cell size, and cell size in turn constrains genome size. Data compiled from a broad range of species from diverse environments are presented in support of the model. Results suggest that much of the heterogeneity in genome size can be explained based on differences in organismal physiology.