DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Aplanulata (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa): A Model Clade for Investigating the Evolutionary and Developmental Basis of Hydrozoan Body Plan Diversity

论文研究：Aplanulata（刺胞动物门：水螅动物）：研究水螅动物身体计划多样性的进化和发育基础的模型分支

• 批准号: 0910211
• 负责人: Paulyn Cartwright
• 金额: $ 1.5万
• 依托单位: University of Kansas Center for Research Inc
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2009-06-01 至 2012-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0910211&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: DISSERTATION; RESEARCH; Aplanulata; Cnidaria; Hydrozoa

This project aims to understand the genetics of body construction and diversity in a group of aquatic invertebrate animals called hydrozoans. This group includes a well studied freshwater invertebrate Hydra, whose body consists of a tubular column with a ring of tentacles on top. Because the genetics and physiology of Hydra have been thoroughly examined and it grows well in the laboratory, the species is a valuable genetic and developmental resource. The goal of this study is to document the role of genes controlling development in Hydra and two related species that differ markedly in the construction of their body columns and the size and location of tentacles on the column. These differences in body plan are caused by differences in the timing of gene expression and the locations on the body column where genes are turned on and off. By examining when and where these developmental genes are active in the bodies of the animals, this study will gain insight into the evolution and function of these genes in the development of body plan morphology in these simple invertebrates. Using a comparative approach of studying three closely related species with different body plans, the study will provide insights into the role of developmental genes in the evolution of morphological diversity. The research will be integrated into an undergraduate course on embryology and development. Additionally, an undergraduate student will take conduct an independent research project. A web site for the public and other researchers will synthesize information on developmental genetics of these organisms, which are important models for understanding development in many species.

该项目旨在了解水螅类水生无脊椎动物的身体构造和多样性的遗传学。该群体包括一种经过充分研究的淡水无脊椎动物水螅，其身体由一根顶部有一圈触手的管状柱组成。 由于水螅的遗传学和生理学已经过彻底检查，并且它在实验室中生长良好，因此该物种是宝贵的遗传和发育资源。这项研究的目的是记录控制水螅和两个相关物种发育的基因的作用，这两个物种在身体柱的构造以及柱上触手的大小和位置方面存在显着差异。 身体计划的这些差异是由基因表达时间和基因打开和关闭的身体柱上位置的差异引起的。 通过检查这些发育基因在动物体内活跃的时间和地点，这项研究将深入了解这些基因在这些简单无脊椎动物身体形态发育中的进化和功能。 该研究采用比较方法研究具有不同身体结构的三个密切相关的物种，将深入了解发育基因在形态多样性进化中的作用。该研究将被纳入胚胎学和发育的本科课程中。 此外，本科生将进行独立的研究项目。 一个面向公众和其他研究人员的网站将综合这些生物体的发育遗传学信息，这是了解许多物种发育的重要模型。