OPUS: MCS The imprint of developmental bias on morphological diversification

进化依赖于发育过程的可能结果，但科学家缺乏将发育偏见纳入进化理论的正式数学结构。开发一个通用的建模框架的一个挑战是，发育偏差是所讨论的结构和物种所独有的。这项研究将把软骨和骨骼生长的模型纳入进化框架。研究人员将建立在最近对蟾蜍耳朵结构进行比较的基础上；许多蟾蜍物种的耳朵发育受到损害，缺乏通常对听力重要的结构。该项目将把研究人员和学生与机械工程师结合在一起，创建一个数学模型，根据发育参数预测耳朵结构。该模型将检测进化变化，这些变化可以改变蟾蜍物种是否发育耳朵。这个框架将形成一个一般的基础，可以应用于其他结构，以了解发育过程如何限制突变的可能结果。工程师和生物学家之间增加的合作将为所有参与者提供关键的教育机会。该项目包括开发课程和活动，帮助本科生、研究生和教授学习进化建模方法。为了实现这些目标，PI招募了三名导师来模拟发育偏差对形态多样性的影响：一名模拟生物过程的工程师，一名研究两栖动物神经脊和软骨发育的领先进化发展生物学家，以及一名基于系统发生的进化模型专家。科学家和工程师将在跨学科课程中合作，以获得互补的专业知识，并培训CSU学生。他们将调整软骨生长模型，以探索细胞大小、密度和局部化学环境对耳朵发育的影响程度，以及细胞-细胞或细胞-环境相互作用可能改变形态的程度。这些模型将产生可测试的预测，这些预测将指导与进化发育生物学家合作的实验，并将在系统发育模型师的指导下被纳入明确的进化框架。除了PI和研究生的教育机会，这项工作的另一个成果将是一个公开可用的模块，在大型生物入门课程中更好地教授进化生物学。这个奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Evolution depends on the possible outcomes of developmental processes, yet scientists lack a formal mathematical structure to incorporate developmental biases into evolutionary theory. One challenge in developing a general modeling framework is that developmental biases are unique to the structure and species in question. This research will incorporate models of cartilage and bone growth into an evolutionary framework. The researchers will build on recent comparisons of ear structures among toads; many toad species have impaired ear development and lack structures commonly important for hearing. The project will bring together researchers and students with mechanical engineers to create a mathematical model that predicts ear structures based on developmental parameters. The model will examine evolutionary changes that can switch whether or not toad species develop ears. This framework will form a general foundation that can be applied to other structures to understand how developmental processes limit possible outcomes of mutations. The increased collaboration between engineers and biologists will provide key educational opportunities for all participants. The project includes developing courses and activities that will help undergraduates, graduate students, and professors learn evolutionary modeling methods.To accomplish these goals, the PI has recruited three mentors to model the effects of developmental biases on morphological diversity: an engineer who models biological processes, a leading evolutionary developmental biologist who studies neural crest and cartilage development in amphibians, and an expert in phylogenetically based models of evolution. The scientist and the engineer will work together in cross-disciplinary courses to gain complementary expertise and train CSU students. They will adapt models of cartilage growth to explore the extent to which cell size, density, and local chemical environments influence ear development and also which cell-cell or cell-environment interactions could alter morphology. These models will generate testable predictions that will guide experiments in collaboration with the evolutionary developmental biologist and will be incorporated into an explicit evolutionary framework under the guidance of the phylogenetic modeler. In addition to the educational opportunities for the PI and graduate students, another outcome of this work will be a publicly available module to better teach evolutionary biology in large introductory biology classes.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.