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

这个项目旨在了解一群被称为水生动物的水生无脊椎动物的身体结构和多样性的遗传学。这一组包括一种经过充分研究的淡水无脊椎动物九头蛇，它的身体由顶部有一环触角的管状柱子组成。由于九头蛇的遗传学和生理学已经得到了彻底的研究，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。这项研究的目的是证明在九头蛇和两个近缘物种中控制发育的基因所起的作用，这两个物种在体柱的结构以及柱上触手的大小和位置上存在显著差异。身体计划上的这些差异是由于基因表达的时间和身体列上基因开启和关闭的位置的不同造成的。通过研究这些发育基因在动物体内何时何地活跃，这项研究将深入了解这些简单无脊椎动物身体平面形态发育过程中这些基因的进化和功能。这项研究采用比较的方法，研究了三个有着不同身体规划的密切相关物种，将提供对发育基因在形态多样性进化中的作用的见解。这项研究将被整合到胚胎学与发育的本科课程中。此外，一名本科生将参加一项独立的研究项目。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，这些信息是理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.