This Project Grant award from the National Science Foundation's Division of Environmental Biology (CFDA 47.074) provides $336,155 to Northern Arizona University to assemble a high-quality genome sequence for the pinyon pine (Pinus edulis) and analyze how its genome structure affects gene expression across environmental and genetic gradients. The three-year project will train the lead researcher in advanced genomic methods and leverage a collaboration with the University of Connecticut to investigate the role of hybridization, gene regulation, and retrotransposon activity in the pinyon pine's response to climate change. The resulting genome sequence and insights will help guide genetic management strategies for this ecologically important tree species, which is expected to decline significantly due to climate change. The research will also provide critical information to support conservation efforts for the pinyon jay, which relies on pinyon pine seeds as a food source.
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