BIOCOMPLEXITY: Wormnet: Reconstructing The Early Evolution Of Segmented Annelid Worms

蠕虫网：重建环节动物蠕虫K。M. Halanych，M. Martindale，E. Seaver，D. McHugh和联合基因组研究所（J. Boore，D.对后生动物生殖的理解一直被身体平面中分割的程度和性质的解释所混淆。特别是环节动物，通常被称为分节蠕虫，一直是关于分节在动物进化中的作用的争论的核心。最近的证据表明，一些不分节或部分分节的蠕虫分类群，以前被认为是独立的门，是在环节动物辐射。这些最近的结果与迄今为止唯一的关于环节动物的全面系统发育分析，即Rouse和Fauchald（1997）的形态分析相冲突。此外，由于环节动物是进化上最成功的“门”之一，因为它们在前寒武纪晚期到寒武纪早期多样化，了解它们的早期进化历史对于了解动物生命的进化至关重要。 这项工作有两个目标：1）基因组学方法将被用来重建早期系统发育事件的环节动物，其中包括几个以前公认的门，和2）功能基因组技术将被用来表征的发展机制，在几个关键的谱系分割。 解释的分割，环节动物的标志，在胚胎发育的背景下，将允许新的见解的作用和可塑性的分割在动物进化过程中。这个项目被称为“WormNet”，因为它代表了四个机构的研究人员的跨学科网络，以加强教育和外联活动的方式侧重于这些目标。 此外，该计划旨在启动主要后生动物分支Lophotrochozoa（环节动物，软体动物，lophophophorates及其盟友）的其他研究领域。将制作公开的cDNA和基因组BAC文库，来自大约130个完全测序的线粒体基因组的数据将为群体遗传和系统研究提供所需的标记。鉴于环节动物是深海（覆盖地球的70%）中最丰富和最普遍的动物“phlyum”，作为生物指示剂，在生物修复中发挥作用，并包括即将到来的模式生物，理解它们的进化的重要性不能低估。

WormNet: Reconstructing the early evolution of segmented annelid worms K. M. Halanych, M. Martindale, E. Seaver, D. McHugh, and the Joint Genome Institute (J. Boore, D. Rokhsar)EAR-0120646Understanding metazoan phylogeny has been confounded by interpretations of the degree and nature of segmentation in body plans. In particular, the Annelida, commonly called segmented worms, has been central to debates on the role of segmentation in animal evolution. Recent evidence suggests that several non-segmented or partially segmented worm taxa, that were previously regarded as separate phyla, are within the annelid radiation. These recent results conflict with the only comprehensive phylogenetic analyses to date on the annelids, the morphological analyses of Rouse and Fauchald (1997). Furthermore, because annelids are one of the most evolutionarily successful "phyla" and because they diversified in the late PreCambrian to early Cambrian, understanding their early evolutionary history is paramount to understanding the evolution of animal life. The proposed work has two goals: 1) Genomic approaches will be used to reconstruct the early phylogenetic events of the "Annelida", which includes several previously recognized phyla, and 2) Functional genomic techniques will be used to characterize the developmental mechanisms employed in segmentation in several key lineages. Interpreting the segmentation, a hallmark of annelids, in the context of the phylogeny will allow novel insights on the role and plasticity of segmentation during animal evolution. This project has been called "WormNet" because it represents an interdisciplinary network of researchers, at four institutions, focusing on these goals in a manner that enhances education and outreach activities. Additionally, this program is designed to jumpstart other areas of research in the major metazoan clade Lophotrochozoa (annelids, mollusks, lophophorates, and their allies). Publicly available cDNA and genomic BAC libraries will be produced, and data from approximately 130 completely sequenced mitochondrial genomes will provide needed markers for population genetic and systematic studies. Given that annelids are the most abundant and ubiquitous animal "phlyum" in the deep sea (which covers 70% of the planet), serve as bioindicators, have a role in bioremediation, and include up-and-coming model organisms, the importance of understanding their evolution cannot be understated.