Lucy Copsey

The “old world” Antirrhinum species, found growing naturally in southern Europe and North Africa, show an extensive range of diversity in growth habit, organ size, shape and flower colour.

This variation is important as it highlights differences between individuals which may be due to either environmental effects or differences at gene level.

These genetic differences underpin how diversity in form is generated through evolutionary time and is the basis of evolution.

By exploiting evolutionary variation, we hope to identify genes controlling these traits in Antirrhinum species.