Functional Approaches to the Origin of the Bilaterally Symmetrical Body Plan in Animal Development

动物发育中两侧对称身体计划起源的功能途径。这一建议阐述了形态复杂的动物是如何从简单的动物进化而来的，以及形态和分子复杂性之间的关系。大多数动物表现出明显的两侧对称特征，如侧翼或眼睛，然而，在动物进化早期出现的更简单的“径向对称”动物并没有表现出这些特征。Martindale实验室最近的研究结果表明，通常参与双边对称结构形成的基因不仅存在，而且在“径向对称”的海葵Nematostella vectensis中以极化模式表达。这些数据表明，“径向对称”动物是建立在一个双边对称的平台上的，其出现时间比之前认为的要早。Martindale博士提出了进一步研究线虫胚胎中不对称基因表达的实验。他将利用线虫最近测序的基因组和他的团队在线虫胚胎发生研究方面的丰富经验。他将确定不对称基因表达开始的时间，不对称基因激活的层次结构，以及导致不对称基因表达的基因之间的相互作用。为了进一步确定这些结果的普遍性，他建议研究近亲石珊瑚胚胎中的同源基因表达。Martindale博士在培养来自不同背景的研究生和博士后学生以及向进化和发展社区传播结果和试剂方面有着良好的记录。

Mark Q. MartindaleIOB-0642273Functional approaches to the origin of the bilaterally symmetrical body plan in animal development. This proposal addresses how morphologically complex animals evolved from simpler-looking animals and the relationship between morphological and molecular complexity. Most animals display obvious features of bilateral symmetry, such as lateral appendages or eyes, however, simpler, 'radially symmetrical' animals that arose early in animal evolution do not display these features. Recent results from the Martindale lab have shown that genes that normally participate in the formation of bilaterally symmetric structures are not only present but expressed in polarized patterns in the 'radially symmetrical' anemone, Nematostella vectensis. These data indicate that 'radially symmetrical' animals are built on a bilaterally symmetrical platform that arose earlier than previously thought. Dr. Martindale proposes experiments to further investigate asymmetric gene expression in Nematostella embryos. He will take advantage of Nematostella's recently sequenced genome and his group's extensive experience in the study of Nematostella embryogenesis. He will determine when asymmetric gene expression first begins, the hierarchy of asymmetric gene activation, and the interactions between genes that leads to asymmetric gene expression. To further determine the generality of these results he proposes to study homologous gene expression in closely related stony coral embryos. Dr. Martindale has a strong track record in training graduate and postdoctoral students from diverse backgrounds and the dissemination of results and reagents to the evolution and development community.