Compiling a morphological character matrix as the basis for a better understanding of the evolution of the metazoan nervous system

神经系统的进化是后生动物系统发展史中最引人入胜的故事之一，因为神经系统本身代表了后生动物中波普兰复杂性和差异进化的驱动力之一。为了更好地了解神经系统的进化，有必要确定详细的神经解剖学特征并追踪它们在后生动物类群中的分布。只有到那时，才有可能阐明某些特征的复杂进化转化系列。我们建议的主要目标是发展一个由120到150个字符和120个顶生分类群组成的字符矩阵。准备这类矩阵的主要步骤是字符的概念化和潜在同源的识别。一个重要的起点将是由PI汇编的神经解剖学术语词汇表以及本项目的所有共同PI。汇编在矩阵中的特征将被单独分析，并被绘制到现有的系统发育图上(基于EST和其他分子数据)。从冲突和一致性的角度，将从独立分析得到的系统发育与其他后生动物系统发育进行比较。神经系统的进化将在不同的系统发育的基础上进行讨论。Morph D Base数据库的矩阵模块允许对字符矩阵进行协作、同步和分散编辑。然而，为了便于详细讨论这些特征、它们的概念及其同源性，并为评价由此产生的系统发展和后生神经系统进化的最终讨论提供一个论坛，计划在该项目的两年期间举办四个讲习班，包括PI、所有共同PIs和选定的研究生或博士后。这些讲习班构成了拟议项目的核心。

The evolution of the nervous system is one of the most fascinating stories in metazoan phylogeny because the nervous systems itself represents one of the driving forces in the evolution of bauplan complexity and disparity in Metazoa. To better understand the evolution of the nervous system, it is essential to identify detailed neuroanatomical characters and trace their distribution across the metazoan taxa. Only then will it be possible to elucidate the complex evolutionary transformation series of certain characters. The main goal of our proposal is to develop a character matrix encompassing 120 to 150 characters and 120 terminal taxa. The major steps in preparing a matrix of this kind are the conceptualization of characters and the identification of potential homologies. An important starting point will be a glossary of neuroanatomical terms compiled by the PI together with all the co-PIs of the present project. The characters compiled in the matrix will be analyzed separately as well as mapped onto existing phylogenies (on the basis of EST and other molecular data). The phylogeny resulting from the separate analysis will be compared with other metazoan phylogenies in terms of conflict and congruence. The evolution of the nervous system will be discussed on the basis of various phylogenies. The matrix module of the data base Morph D Base permits the collaborative, synchronous and decentralized editing of the character matrix. Nevertheless, to facilitate detailed discussion of the characters, their conceptualization and their homology and to provide a forum for the evaluation of the resulting phylogenies and the final discussion of the evolution of the metazoan nervous system, four workshops including the PI, all co-PIs and selected graduate students or postdocs are planned during the two years of the project. These workshops form the core of the proposed project.