Variation in Patterns of Developmental and Functional Integration During Growth and Evolution of Several New WorldMurid Rodents

密歇根大学的Miriam Zelditch博士正在研究哺乳动物的颅骨和面部发育；特别关注的是面部和颅骨结构的整合在多大程度上是由胚胎、系统发育(进化)和功能限制决定的。PI建议研究几种啮齿动物的胚胎发育，每种啮齿动物代表不同的发育风格。数学和统计分析将应用于口腔面部、脑颅和四肢骨骼在发育过程中的测量。这项分析将深入了解发育早期的制约因素如何影响成年生物的解剖结构，以及面部和头盖骨的完整结构是如何通过进化而改变的。

Dr. Miriam Zelditch at the University of Michigan is conducting research on cranial and facial development in mammals; of specific concern is the extent to which integration of facial and cranial structure is determined by embryonic, phylogenetic (evolutionary), and functional constraints. The PIs propose to study embryonic development in several species of rodents, each representing a different style of development. Mathematical and statistical analysis will be applied to measurements taken from orofacial, neurocranial and limb bones during the course of development. The analysis will provide insight to how constraints operating early in development affect the anatomical structure of adult organisms and how the integrated structure of the face and cranium is modified through evolution.