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

Mark Q.MartindaleIOB-0642273动物发育中双侧对称体型起源的功能探讨。这项建议阐述了形态复杂的动物是如何从看起来更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。大多数动物都表现出明显的两侧对称特征，如侧耳或眼睛，然而，在动物进化早期出现的简单的、径向对称的动物不会表现出这些特征。马丁代尔实验室的最新结果表明，通常参与双边对称结构形成的基因不仅存在于海葵中，而且以极化模式表达。这些数据表明，“径向对称”的动物是建立在一个两侧对称的平台上的，这个平台出现的时间比之前认为的要早。马丁代尔博士提议进行实验，进一步研究线虫胚胎中的不对称基因表达。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第一次开始的时间，不对称基因激活的等级，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，他建议研究密切相关的石珊瑚胚胎中的同源基因表达。Martindale博士在培训来自不同背景的研究生和博士后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.