Evolution and development of skeletal patterning

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The research program will examine the developmental and evolutionary biology of the vertebrate skeleton across large scale evolutionary transitions. Specifically, it will explore the interplay between developmental and evolutionary integration and variation in the skeleton across the fish to tetrapod and dinosaur to bird transitions using quantitative methods of shape description and gene expression. The two transitions are chosen because of their rich fossil record and wealth of developmental biology of relevant extant species. A set of complimentary projects are designed to bridge a broad interdisciplinary program that researches a spectrum from genetic evolution, to developmental mechanics, to biological imaging and quantitative phenomics, to evolutionary patterns, rates, and variation.