Character identity mechanisms: a conceptual model for comparative-mechanistic biology

DiFrisco, James; Love, Alan C.; Wagner, Günter P.

doi:10.1007/s10539-020-09762-2

Cited by 58 publications

(76 citation statements)

References 86 publications

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“…Multicellular organisms generate multiple cell types, with tissues representing combinations of cell types, and organs spatially arranged tissues (e.g. [ 65 ]). The scale and morphological patterning of many Ediacara taxa is evidence of multiple cell types and some degree of regional differentiation [ 66 ].…”

Section: Developmentaly Controlled Charactersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The scale and morphological patterning of many Ediacara taxa is evidence of multiple cell types and some degree of regional differentiation [ 66 ]. Suspension feeding activity directing water to specific regions of the body in Tribrachidium [ 64 ] suggests the concentration of distinct cell types forming an isolated local environment consistent with tissue-grade organization [ 65 ].…”

Section: Developmentaly Controlled Charactersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Mobility in Kimberella, Ikaria and Dickinsonia has been attributed to muscular activity [ 52 , 55 , 56 , 67 ]. Muscles are composite tissues consisting of multiple cell types [ 65 ]. Feeding in Kimberella [ 48 , 49 ] and Ikaria [ 52 , 53 ] suggests the presence of a mouth and gut, potentially a through-gut, although such structures are not preserved.…”

Section: Developmentaly Controlled Charactersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Different animal cell types are produced via changes to their core regulatory complex of TFs [ 107 ]. Other controls, such as microRNAs and autocrine signalling, help maintain individualized cellular identities [ 24 , 28 , 65 , 108 ]. Tissue formation builds upon tools involved in the establishment of an extracellular matrix, such as β-catenin [ 28 , 91 ].…”

Section: Developmentaly Controlled Charactersmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Developmental processes in Ediacara macrofossils

2021

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The Ediacara Biota preserves the oldest fossil evidence of abundant, complex metazoans. Despite their significance, assigning individual taxa to specific phylogenetic groups has proved problematic. To better understand these forms, we identify developmentally controlled characters in representative taxa from the Ediacaran White Sea assemblage and compare them with the regulatory tools underlying similar traits in modern organisms. This analysis demonstrates that the genetic pathways for multicellularity, axial polarity, musculature, and a nervous system were likely present in some of these early animals. Equally meaningful is the absence of evidence for major differentiation of macroscopic body units, including distinct organs, localized sensory machinery or appendages. Together these traits help to better constrain the phylogenetic position of several key Ediacara taxa and inform our views of early metazoan evolution. An apparent lack of heads with concentrated sensory machinery or ventral nerve cords in such taxa supports the hypothesis that these evolved independently in disparate bilaterian clades.

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Section: Developmentaly Controlled Charactersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Developmentaly Controlled Charactersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Developmentaly Controlled Charactersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Developmentaly Controlled Charactersmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Developmental processes in Ediacara macrofossils

2021

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“…The difficulty involved in correctly identifying homologues (at least morphological ones), almost invariably requiring extensive expertise acquired over years of research, has led to generalised criteria for doing so-most notably those of Patterson [28,32] and Remane [33] (also see [34,35]). These tend to touch upon key general features of homologues, including but by no means exclusive to relative complexity, similarity unattributable to convergence, phylogenetic traceability, and congruence with other characters.…”

Section: From Homologues To Cladograms Elusive Homologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Beyond Congruence: Evidential Integration and Inferring the Best Evolutionary Scenario

A¹

2021

Preprint

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Molecular methods have revolutionised virtually every area of biology, and metazoan phylogenetics is no exception: molecular phylogenies, molecular clocks, comparative phylogenomics, and developmental genetics have collectively transformed our understanding of the evolutionary history of animals. Moreover, the diversity of methods and models within molecular phylogenetics has resulted in significant disagreement among molecular phylogenies as well as between these and traditional phylogenies. Here, I argue that tackling this multifaceted problem lies in integrating evidence to infer the best evolutionary scenario. I begin with an overview of recent developments in early metazoan phylogenetics, followed by a discussion of key conceptual issues in phylogenetics revolving around phylogenetic evidence and theory. I then argue that integration of different kinds of evidence is necessary for arriving at the best evolutionary scenario rather than the best-fitting cladogram. Finally, I discuss the prospects of this view in stimulating interdisciplinary cross-talk in early metazoan research and beyond.

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Comparative transcriptomics suggests a potential realizator gene for carapace expansion in longtail tadpole shrimp, Triops longicaudatus (Branchiopoda: Notostraca)

Jung,

Kim,

Shin

2024

J Exp Zool Pt B

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The origin of morphological innovation has been extensively studied within evolutionary developmental biology (evo‐devo). Recent studies have demonstrated that the developmental module for double‐layered epithelial outgrowths is conserved between the insect wings and branchiopod crustacean carapace, thereby introducing homology among these diverse structures. However, evo‐devo studies on the branchiopod crustacean carapace have been primarily limited to a single species, the water flea Daphnia magna, leaving the gene regulatory network governing carapace development not comprehensively understood. Furthermore, realizator genes downstream of the character identity mechanism (ChIM) for bilayered epithelial development remain inadequately described. In this study, we analyzed tissue‐specific transcriptional profiles in the developing longtail tadpole shrimp, Triops longicaudatus. We observed significant upregulation of papilin in the carapace‐bearing head, along with its expression in both the carapace and the trunk limb lobes. Based on these results, we hypothesize that differential expression of papilin is involved in the disproportional growth of Triops carapace. Our findings will contribute to elucidating the diversification of double‐layered epithelial outgrowths across distant arthropod lineages.

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Character identity mechanisms: a conceptual model for comparative-mechanistic biology

Cited by 58 publications

References 86 publications

Developmental processes in Ediacara macrofossils

Developmental processes in Ediacara macrofossils

Beyond Congruence: Evidential Integration and Inferring the Best Evolutionary Scenario

Comparative transcriptomics suggests a potential realizator gene for carapace expansion in longtail tadpole shrimp, Triops longicaudatus (Branchiopoda: Notostraca)

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