Avian Neuromuscular Diversity: The Evolution of Muscle Morphology, Function and Development

9407367种盖特西动物在肌肉的数量、排列和功能上可能有所不同。这项研究试图了解肌肉形态和功能之间的关系，以及这种关系如何随着时间的推移而变化。PI将研究鸟类大腿上的一组肌肉，称为大腿深背侧肌肉。在胚胎发育过程中，大量细胞分解或分裂，形成成年个体的肌肉。一些鸟类，如鸡或珍珠鸡，有四块独立的深大腿背部肌肉。然而，在其他鸟类中，背部深处的肌肉块可能不会完全分裂，产生的成年肌肉不到四块。例如，鸽子和鸭子只有三个深背，而路人只有两个。PI感兴趣的是了解这种数量和位置的变化对这些肌肉的功能有什么影响。PI使用细丝作为电极，记录肌肉收缩时的电学变化。此前的研究表明，当珍珠鸡行走或奔跑时，大腿背部深部肌肉在大步行走的不同时间都处于活跃状态。肌肉不到四块的鸟类的深背肌什么时候会活跃？新的肌肉会进化来执行新的功能或动作吗？当肌肉解剖结构发生变化时，神经系统是如何变化的？通过这些问题，PI希望更好地了解动物设计和脊椎动物多样性的进化。***

9407367 Gatesy Species of animals can differ in the number, arrangement and function of their muscles. This research seeks to understand the relationship between muscle form and function and how this can change with time. The PI will study a group of muscles in the thigh of birds called the deep dorsal thigh muscles. During embryonic development, a mass of cells breaks up, or cleaves, to form the individual muscles present in adults. Some birds, such as the chicken or guineafowl, have four separate deep dorsal thigh muscles. However, in other birds, the deep dorsal muscle mass may not cleave completely, yielding less than four adult muscles. For example, the pigeon and the duck only have three deep dorsals, while a roadrunner has only two. The PI is interested in knowing what effect this variation in number and position has on the function of these muscles. Using fine wires as electrodes, the PI will record electrical changes that reveal when a muscle is contracting. Previous studies have shown that as a guineafowl walks or runs, deep dorsal thigh muscles are active at different times in the stride. When will the deep dorsals be active in birds with fewer than four muscles? Do new muscles evolve to perform new functions or movements? How does the nervous system change when muscle anatomy changes? Through questions such as these, the PI hopes to gain a better understanding of animal design and the evolution of vertebrate diversity. ***