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进化史上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鲍普兰复杂性和差异性进化的驱动力之一。为了更好地理解神经系统的进化，识别详细的神经解剖特征并追踪它们在后生动物分类群中的分布是至关重要的。只有这样，才有可能阐明某些性状的复杂的进化转化系列。我们的建议的主要目标是开发一个字符矩阵，包括120至150字符和120终端类群。在准备这种矩阵的主要步骤是概念化的字符和潜在的同源性的识别。一个重要的起点将是PI与本项目的所有共同PI一起编制的神经解剖学术语词汇表。矩阵中汇编的字符将被单独分析，并映射到现有的同源性（EST和其他分子数据的基础上）。从单独的分析所产生的共生关系将与其他后生动物共生关系的冲突和一致性进行比较。神经系统的进化将在各种遗传学的基础上加以讨论。数据库Morph D Base的矩阵模块允许协作、同步和分散编辑字符矩阵。然而，为了便于详细讨论的字符，他们的概念化和同源性，并提供一个论坛的评估所产生的同源性和后生动物神经系统的进化的最后讨论，四个研讨会，包括PI，所有合作PI和选定的研究生或博士后计划在该项目的两年。这些讲习班构成拟议项目的核心。

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.