Molecular mechanisms contributing evolutionary morphological diversity

现代发育生物学研究发现的一个重要概念是，对发育至关重要的基因的结构和功能在动物之间往往非常相似，即使在昆虫和哺乳动物这样不同的动物中也是如此。那么，这些表面上很保守的基因是如何产生动物形态的巨大多样性的呢？昆虫的翅膀是研究这个问题的一个迷人的发育系统，因为现有的结构范围令人印象深刻。拟议中的研究将比较两种不同昆虫的翅膀发育，一种是面粉甲虫（Tribolium），另一种是果蝇（Drosophila）。这些强大的昆虫遗传模型系统在翅膀形态上有很大的不同。对苍蝇翅膀发育的调控基础进行了很好的描述。在提议的研究中，Tomoyasu博士将使用遗传和发育方法相结合的方法来研究甲虫的翅膀发育，并将其与苍蝇的翅膀发育进行比较，以了解形态进化的分子基础。Tomoyasu博士之前的研究表明，Hox基因（一类在发育过程中具有许多关键功能的基因）功能的变化可能对昆虫翅膀形式的多样性做出了重大贡献。目前的研究重点是研究Hox在甲虫翅膀中的作用模式，这将有助于更好地理解Hox功能的变化如何促进形态进化。建议的研究将通过大学生的积极参与来加强本科生的科学教育。让学生接触正在进行的研究项目将使他们学习如何将他们的知识应用到科学项目中，这将补充他们的课堂教育。Tomoyasu博士是迈阿密大学本科生研究与指导（URM）项目的参与者，该项目由美国国家科学基金会资助，旨在鼓励代表性不足的学生考虑从事科学事业。Tomoyasu博士将通过URM计划积极招募学生进行拟议的研究。此外，Tomoyasu博士将致力于在中学和本科水平的遗传学教学实验室推广Tribolium的使用。Tribolium有几个特点，使其成为教学实验室中优秀的模式生物（易于培养，可用的遗传工具等）。通过拟议的项目，Tomoyasu博士将开发几个适合教学实验室的Tribolium研究方案。

One of the important concepts that modern developmental biology studies have uncovered is that the structure and function of genes important for development are often very similar among animals, even in those as different as insects and mammals. How then do these same apparently well-conserved genes produce the great diversity of animal forms? The insect wing is a fascinating developmental system to study this question, because of the impressive range of existing structures. The proposed research will compare wing development of two different insects, a flour beetle (Tribolium) and a fruit fly (Drosophila). These powerful insect genetic model systems differ dramatically in wing morphology. The regulatory basis of fly wing development is well described. In the proposed research, Dr. Tomoyasu will use a combination of genetic and developmental approaches to study wing development in beetles, and compare it with that of flies to understand the molecular basis of morphological evolution. Dr. Tomoyasu's research has previously shown that changes in the function of a Hox gene (a class of genes that has many critical functions during development) may have contributed significantly to the diversity of insect wing forms. The current research is focused on studying the mode of Hox action in beetle wings, which will lead to a better understanding of how changes in Hox function have contributed to morphological evolution.The proposed research will enhance undergraduate science education through active participation of undergraduate students in the project. Exposure of students to an on-going research project will allow them to learn how to apply their knowledge to a scientific project, which will complement their classroom education. Dr. Tomoyasu is a participant in the Undergraduate Research and Mentoring (URM) program at Miami University, an NSF-funded program to encourage underrepresented students to consider a career in science. Dr. Tomoyasu will actively recruit students to the proposed research through the URM program.In addition, Dr. Tomoyasu will work to popularize the use of Tribolium in genetics teaching laboratories at the secondary and undergraduate levels. Tribolium has several traits that make it an excellent model organism in teaching laboratories (ease of culture, available genetic tools, etc.). Through the proposed project, Dr. Tomoyasu will develop several Tribolium research protocols suitable for teaching laboratories.