Neurogenesis in bilateral larval and radial adult body plans: identification of echinoderm homologues of the chordate central nervous system

在这个与海星合作的项目中，胚胎学和基因表达研究的现代综合是我们在理解动物进化方面取得进展的主要途径，并对围绕我们自己的门--脊索动物起源的谜团产生了新的见解。该项目利用了澳大利亚特有动物物种的生活史多样性。在这些海星中看到的极端生命历史多样性在全球范围内是无与伦比的，为产生关于海洋潜在进化过程的新发现和加强我们对海洋系统的了解提供了重要资源。

The modern synthesis of embryology and gene expression studies, as undertaken in this project with sea stars, is a major way forward to achieve advances in our understanding of animal evolution and generate new insights into the mystery that surrounds the origin of our own phylum, the Chordata. This project utilises life history diversity in species that are unique Australian fauna. Extreme life history diversity as seen in these sea stars is unparalleled on a global scale and provides an important resource to generate new discoveries on the processes underlying evolution in the sea and enhance our understanding of marine systems.