A Mechanistic Model for the Evolution of the Vertebrate Head Skeleton

脊椎动物头部骨骼进化的机制模型

• 批准号: 1257040
• 负责人: Daniel Medeiros
• 金额: $ 53万
• 依托单位: University of Colorado at Boulder
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2013
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2013-03-01 至 2017-02-28
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1257040&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Mechanistic; Model; Evolution; Vertebrate; Head

Vertebrates evolved from small filter-feeding worms around a half-billion years ago. The vertebrate subphylum has since become one of the most widespread animal groups, giving rise to a stunning diversity of species, including humans. One of the keys to vertebrate success is the robust and highly adaptable vertebrate head skeleton. Despite the central role of the head skeleton in vertebrate evolution very little is known about how it first formed. This project uses modern molecular methods to address this long-standing and previously intractable question by analyzing the genetic mechanisms underlying skeletal development in three key species. The first animal, amphioxus, is an invertebrate regarded as a 'living fossil' highly similar to the worm-like ancestor of the vertebrates. While previously thought to lack a vertebrate-type skeletal tissue, we have found exciting evidence that such tissue may form during its larval phase. The second, the lamprey, is a living representative of the most ancient vertebrate group, the agnathans. The third, the African clawed frog, is an easily accessible model vertebrate with a head skeleton similar to our own. By the novel application of modern molecular methods to the embryos and larvae of these animals, we are elucidating the genetic and developmental changes driving the evolution of the vertebrate head. In the process, the work provides training for a postdoctoral scholar, graduate, and several undergraduate students, as well as hands-on research experiences for high school students. The project also provides an opportunity for undergraduates to participate directly in novel basic research through an upper division lab course. Finally, the results of the work will be incorporated into the curriculum of a large general biology course and widely disseminated to the public through a traveling exhibit at the University of Colorado Museum of Natural History.

脊椎动物大约在5亿年前从小型滤食性蠕虫进化而来。 脊椎动物亚门已经成为分布最广的动物群体之一，产生了包括人类在内的惊人的物种多样性。 脊椎动物成功的关键之一是脊椎动物头部骨骼的健壮和高度适应性。 尽管头部骨骼在脊椎动物进化中扮演着核心角色，但人们对它最初是如何形成的知之甚少。 该项目使用现代分子方法，通过分析三个关键物种骨骼发育的遗传机制来解决这个长期存在且以前难以解决的问题。 第一种动物，文昌鱼，是一种无脊椎动物，被认为是“活化石”，与脊椎动物的蠕虫状祖先非常相似。虽然以前认为缺乏脊椎动物类型的骨骼组织，但我们发现了令人兴奋的证据，表明这种组织可能在其幼虫阶段形成。第二种是七鳃鳗，它是最古老的脊椎动物无颌类的活的代表。 第三种是非洲爪蛙，它是一种很容易接近的模式脊椎动物，头部骨骼与我们的相似。 通过将现代分子方法应用于这些动物的胚胎和幼虫，我们正在阐明驱动脊椎动物头部进化的遗传和发育变化。在这个过程中，这项工作为博士后学者，研究生和几名本科生提供了培训，并为高中生提供了实践研究经验。 该项目还为本科生提供了一个机会，通过上师实验室课程直接参与新的基础研究。最后，这项工作的结果将被纳入一个大型普通生物学课程的课程，并通过在科罗拉多大学自然历史博物馆举办的巡回展览向公众广泛传播。

项目成果

Evolution of the endothelin pathway drove neural crest cell diversification

• DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2720-z
• 发表时间: 2020-09-16
• 期刊: NATURE
• 影响因子: 64.8
• 作者: Square, Tyler A.;Jandzik, David;Medeiros, Daniel M.
• 通讯作者: Medeiros, Daniel M.