Collaborative Research: The Evolution of Patterning Mechanisms Within Arthropod Limbs

节肢动物几乎在地球上的每个栖息地都可以找到--这种辐射在很大程度上是由它们肢体的不同特化所驱动的。尽管肢体结构的差异很大，但最初对构成肢体的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)的相似之处比不同之处更容易解释。然而，Nagy博士和Williams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，以剖析表达与已知果蝇模式不同的基因和表达保守的基因的功能。他们使用昆虫-甲壳类支系进行这一分析，因为甲壳类具有极其多样化的肢体形态，而昆虫对肢体形成的分子机制研究得最好。他们的目标是揭示昆虫-甲壳类肢体形态多样性产生的潜在机制。他们通过对各种物种的描述性研究、遗传学研究和实验研究来实现这一目标。由于这些研究涉及许多昆虫和甲壳类物种，它们为推断昆虫/甲壳类血统的祖先模式回路提供了一个框架。此外，由于他们评估了保守基因和变异基因的功能，这些研究将为类似的一组基因在整个进化过程中如何重新配置提供信息。更广泛的影响：这个项目在多个层次的调查中促进教育。一些拟议的工作构成了研究生培养的基础；其他方面将形成本科生的研究项目。对之前资助的项目结果的持续分析将成为一个关于遗传学和发育的在线教案，由一个高中教师教育项目创建。我们的研究成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，并在本科生课堂、研讨会和在线讨论部分进行讨论。在实验室培养中保存的节肢动物为当地的学前班和小学以及高中理科班提供了亟需的资源。

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.