How does embryonic physiology shape the divergence of brain development?

与胎盘哺乳动物(人、老鼠、狗等)不同，有袋类动物会生下非常不成熟的幼崽，这些幼崽最终会在袋子里发育。尽管在主要哺乳动物谱系中有如此显著的差异，但人们对不同的生殖环境如何影响发育和进化知之甚少。该项目旨在探索子宫内或子宫外发育如何影响胎盘哺乳动物与有袋类哺乳动物的大脑发育。预期的结果包括扩展不同身体系统在发育和进化中如何联系的理论，了解有袋类动物发育的哪些方面可能对气候变化带来的环境变化特别敏感，以及提高澳大利亚的研究能力。

Unlike placental mammals (humans, mice, dogs etc) marsupials give birth to very immature young that finalise development in the pouch. Despite this remarkable distinction in the major mammalian lineages, very little is known about how differing reproductive environments impact development and evolution. This project aims to explore how developing inside or outside a uterus impacts brain development in placental vs marsupial mammals. Expected outcomes include expanding theories of how different body systems are connected in development and evolution, understanding what aspects of marsupial development might be especially sensitive to variations in environment brought about by climate change and enhancing Australia’s research capabilities.