DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Aplanulata (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa): A Model Clade for Investigating the Evolutionary and Developmental Basis of Hydrozoan Body Plan Diversity

该项目旨在了解一组被称为水螅的水生无脊椎动物的身体结构和多样性的遗传学。这一组包括一种研究得很好的淡水无脊椎动物九头蛇，它的身体由一个管状柱组成，顶部有一圈触手。由于九头蛇的遗传和生理已被彻底研究，并且在实验室中生长良好，因此该物种是一种宝贵的遗传和发育资源。本研究的目的是记录基因控制水螅和两个相关物种的发育的作用，这两个物种在它们的身体柱的结构和触手的大小和位置上有明显的不同。这些体型上的差异是由基因表达的时间和基因在身体柱上开启和关闭的位置的差异引起的。通过研究这些发育基因在动物体内活跃的时间和位置，本研究将深入了解这些基因在这些简单无脊椎动物身体形态发展中的进化和功能。通过对三种有着不同体型的亲缘关系密切的物种进行比较研究，本研究将深入了解发育基因在形态多样性进化中的作用。这项研究将被纳入胚胎学和发育的本科课程。此外，本科生将进行一个独立的研究项目。一个面向公众和其他研究人员的网站将综合这些生物的发育遗传学信息，这些信息是了解许多物种发育的重要模型。

This project aims to understand the genetics of body construction and diversity in a group of aquatic invertebrate animals called hydrozoans. This group includes a well studied freshwater invertebrate Hydra, whose body consists of a tubular column with a ring of tentacles on top. Because the genetics and physiology of Hydra have been thoroughly examined and it grows well in the laboratory, the species is a valuable genetic and developmental resource. The goal of this study is to document the role of genes controlling development in Hydra and two related species that differ markedly in the construction of their body columns and the size and location of tentacles on the column. These differences in body plan are caused by differences in the timing of gene expression and the locations on the body column where genes are turned on and off. By examining when and where these developmental genes are active in the bodies of the animals, this study will gain insight into the evolution and function of these genes in the development of body plan morphology in these simple invertebrates. Using a comparative approach of studying three closely related species with different body plans, the study will provide insights into the role of developmental genes in the evolution of morphological diversity. The research will be integrated into an undergraduate course on embryology and development. Additionally, an undergraduate student will take conduct an independent research project. A web site for the public and other researchers will synthesize information on developmental genetics of these organisms, which are important models for understanding development in many species.