The development and evolution of chondrichthyan gill arches and their appendages
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Cambridge
Department Name: Zoology
Abstract
Theme: World-Class Underpinning Bioscience
This project will investigate the patterning of chondrichthyan gill arches and their appendages in the little skate (Leucoraja erinacea), which is the established developmental model system in the Gillis Lab. Appendages have long been central to the study of pattern formation and organogenesis. For example, studying tetrapod limb development has yielded fundamental insights into axis establishment, signalling centres, and coordinated cell proliferation, movement and differentiation in the vertebrate embryo. Cartilaginous fishes are the only extant vertebrates that possess branchial rays, appendages that extend laterally from their gill arches, and which have been hypothesised to be serially homologous to paired fins and limbs. This project will use gill arches as a system to study skeletal pattern formation as well as to test this hypothesis of serial homology, by examining the role of developmental signalling pathways such as retinoic acid in patterning branchial rays, by employing experimental embryological manipulations, by dissection of signalling pathway function in vivo, as well as fate mapping techniques and gene expression analysis (in situ and RNAseq). This project will deepen our understanding of basic mechanisms of vertebrate appendage patterning, and may also shed light on the evolutionary origin of paired fins and limbs.
This project will involve bioinformatics relating to the analysis of RNAseq transcriptomic data regarding differences in gene expression along the dorsoventral axis of developing gill arches, statistical analysis thereof, imaging of in situ hybridisation experiments, and statistical analysis of experimental data such as fate-mapping.
This project will investigate the patterning of chondrichthyan gill arches and their appendages in the little skate (Leucoraja erinacea), which is the established developmental model system in the Gillis Lab. Appendages have long been central to the study of pattern formation and organogenesis. For example, studying tetrapod limb development has yielded fundamental insights into axis establishment, signalling centres, and coordinated cell proliferation, movement and differentiation in the vertebrate embryo. Cartilaginous fishes are the only extant vertebrates that possess branchial rays, appendages that extend laterally from their gill arches, and which have been hypothesised to be serially homologous to paired fins and limbs. This project will use gill arches as a system to study skeletal pattern formation as well as to test this hypothesis of serial homology, by examining the role of developmental signalling pathways such as retinoic acid in patterning branchial rays, by employing experimental embryological manipulations, by dissection of signalling pathway function in vivo, as well as fate mapping techniques and gene expression analysis (in situ and RNAseq). This project will deepen our understanding of basic mechanisms of vertebrate appendage patterning, and may also shed light on the evolutionary origin of paired fins and limbs.
This project will involve bioinformatics relating to the analysis of RNAseq transcriptomic data regarding differences in gene expression along the dorsoventral axis of developing gill arches, statistical analysis thereof, imaging of in situ hybridisation experiments, and statistical analysis of experimental data such as fate-mapping.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
James Gillis (Primary Supervisor) | |
Marie Hirschberger (Student) |
Publications
Hirschberger M
(2021)
Axial patterning of the chondrichthyan pharyngeal endoskeleton and the origin of the jaw
Studentship Projects
Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
BB/M011194/1 | 01/10/2015 | 31/03/2024 | |||
1804457 | Studentship | BB/M011194/1 | 01/10/2016 | 31/03/2021 | Marie Hirschberger |
Description | I have collected and analysed data that support my key hypotheses about the evolution and development of chondrichthyan gill arches and the origin of the jaw, such as shared developmental patterning during the growth of the jaw and gill arches in my model organism, the little skate. However, my PhD is not yet finished, and I will collect more data in the future. |
Exploitation Route | My research may aid other scientists studying craniofacial development. Many of the key factors I am interested in from an evolutionary standpoint have also been shown to be involved in human diseases and birth defects, and my insights might aid understanding how we can combat craniofacial defects in humans. |
Sectors | Healthcare,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |