Collaborative Research: The Evolution of Patterning Mechanisms Within Arthropod Limbs

0236193 Nagy节肢动物几乎可以在地球上的每一个栖息地找到-辐射驱动在很大程度上是由他们的四肢的不同专业化。尽管肢体结构存在巨大的变异性，但最初对肢体基因的比较研究强调了基因表达的保守模式。也许这是因为与模型系统（果蝇）的相似性比差异性更容易解释。然而，纳吉和威廉姆斯博士试图了解节肢动物肢体的形态多样性。为此，他们提出了一系列实验来剖析基因的功能，这些基因的表达与已知的果蝇模式不同，而这些基因的表达是保守的。 他们使用昆虫-甲壳类分支进行这种分析，因为甲壳类动物具有极其多样的肢体形态，而昆虫具有最好的肢体形成分子机制研究。他们的目标是揭示昆虫-甲壳类动物肢体之间形态多样性产生的机制。他们通过对各种物种的描述性、遗传性和实验性研究来实现这一目标。由于这些研究涉及到昆虫和甲壳类物种的数量，他们提供了一个框架的推断，为昆虫/甲壳类谱系的祖先图案电路。此外，由于这些研究评估了保守基因和变异基因的功能，这些研究将为了解一组相似的基因在整个进化过程中是如何重新部署的提供信息。更广泛的影响：该项目促进了多层次探究的教育。 一些拟议的工作形式的研究生培养的基础;其他方面将形成本科生的研究项目。 对先前资助的项目结果的持续分析将成为遗传学和发展的在线课程计划，该计划是在高中教师教育计划中创建的。 我们的研究结果将发表在科学期刊上，并定期在地方，国家和国际会议上发表，并在本科课程，研讨会和在线讨论部分进行讨论。 实验室培养的节肢动物为当地的学前和小学以及高中科学课程提供了急需的资源。

0236193NagyArthropods can be found in virtually every habitat on earth - a radiation driven in large part by the diverse specializations of their limbs. In spite of the enormous variability in limb structures, the initial comparative studies of genes that pattern limbs have emphasized conserved patterns of gene expression. Perhaps this is because similarities to the model system (Drosophila) are more easily explicable than differences. However, Drs. Nagy and Williams seek to understand the morphological diversification of arthropod limbs. To this end, they propose a series of experiments to dissect the function of both genes whose expression varies from the known Drosophila pattern and ones whose expression is conserved. They use the insect- crustacean clade for this analysis since crustaceans have extremely diverse limb morphologies, while insects have the best studied molecular mechanisms of limb formation. Their goal is to uncover mechanisms underlying the generation of morphological diversity among insect-crustacean limbs. They approach this goal using both descriptive, genetic and experimental studies on a variety of species. Because these studies involve a number of both insect and crustacean species, they provide a framework for inferences as to the ancestral patterning circuitry for the insect/crustacean lineage. In addition, because they evaluate function in both conserved and varying genes, these studies will be informative about how a similar set of genes has been redeployed throughout evolution.Broader impact: This project promotes education at multiple levels of inquiry. Some of the proposed work forms the basis of graduate training; other aspects will form undergraduate research projects. Continued analysis of results from the previously funded project will become an online lesson plan in genetics and development, created in a high school teacher education program. The results of our research will be published in scientific journals and regularly presented at local, national and international meetings and discussed in undergraduate classes, seminars, and online discussion sections. The arthropods maintained in laboratory culture provide a much needed resource to local pre- and elementary schools and high school science classes.