Shaping the mammalian skull: modeling how species-specific shape of skeletal elements is generated during development and during evolution
Lead Research Organisation:
King's College London
Department Name: Craniofacial Dev and Stem Cell Biology
Abstract
Developmental variation is one of the primary pathways of phenotypic diversification of species, but how shape is generated during development remains unresolved. In this project we will quantify the shape of specific bones and cartilages that make up the skull and facial skeleton through development and use mathematical models and morphometrics to try to predict how the unique faces observed in many different species of mammals evolved. The project combines developmental genetics (transgenic mice) with high-density imaging, morphometrics, and modeling and partners a developmental biologist (Prof Abigail Tucker) with a morphometrician and quantitative paleobiologist (Prof Anjali Goswami).
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BB/M009513/1 | 01/10/2015 | 31/03/2024 | |||
| 1905829 | Studentship | BB/M009513/1 | 01/10/2017 | 02/03/2022 | Heather White |
| Description | The development and comparison of methods to understand suture shape within the skull. Identification that suture shape appears to have some dietary links. Certain cells involved in bone remodelling and development are important for the maintenance of suture shape in the skull. This work has not yet been published and therefore should not be distributed more widely. I have also compared multiple metrics for quantifying suture complexity and find that these metrics are more reliable than traditional landmark shape analysis approaches. This has led to the identification of certain metrics being more appropriate for certain datasets. This is published work. |
| Exploitation Route | More studies looking at smaller more in depth clades of mammals and other species. Other studies would be more easily able to determine appropriate methods for their datasets. |
| Sectors | Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Environment,Healthcare |
| Description | Outreach and public engagement events such a NatureLive and Museum Late discussions at the NHM. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2020 |
| Sector | Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Environment,Healthcare |
| Impact Types | Cultural,Societal |
| Description | British Society of Developmental Biology Travel grant |
| Amount | £445 (GBP) |
| Organisation | British Society for Developmental Biology |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2019 |
| End | 04/2019 |
| Description | King's College London Dental Institute Europe Travel grant |
| Amount | £600 (GBP) |
| Organisation | King's College London |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 05/2019 |
| End | 10/2019 |
| Description | King's College London Dental Institute US Travel grant |
| Amount | £1,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | King's College London |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 12/2019 |
| End | 10/2020 |
| Title | Geometric morphometrics |
| Description | MicroCT scanning and shape analysis using specialised software and R programming to capture shape variation and address evolutionary and developmental biology questions. |
| Type Of Material | Model of mechanisms or symptoms - mammalian in vivo |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | Geometric morphometric methods have been used for a long time to study shape in evolutionary biology. But I have been involved in coding new methods and making comparisons through modelling approaches as to the most appropriate. |
| Title | HeatherEWhite/suture_metrics_comparison-v1.0.0 |
| Description | This is the first release of my suture metrics comparison GitHub which compares 5 complexity metrics to quantify mammal suture complexity in 2D. |
| Type Of Material | Model of mechanisms or symptoms - in vitro |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | These metrics were compared as part of this PhD research project, it will also be used in additionally chapters throughout the PhD. |
| URL | https://zenodo.org/record/4037220 |
| Title | Histology |
| Description | Implementing many different traditional histological techniques to study bone mechanisms in the skull and sutures of a developmental series of mice and transgenic mice. |
| Type Of Material | Biological samples |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | The ability to analyse bone development and understand key developmental biology topics. |
| Title | Github account |
| Description | Github to run, store, share and save my code. |
| Type Of Material | Data handling & control |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Allows easy collaborations and sharing of code. |
| URL | https://github.com/HeatherEWhite |
| Description | Collaboration with Natural History Museum |
| Organisation | Natural History Museum |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Expertise in developmental biology |
| Collaborator Contribution | Use of microCT scanners at NHM |
| Impact | Working on a new grant application |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Title | HeatherEWhite/suture_metrics_comparison-v1.0.0 |
| Description | This is the first release of my suture metrics comparison GitHub which compares 5 complexity metrics to quantify mammal suture complexity in 2D. |
| Type Of Technology | Software |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Impact | This software has been published alongside the suture complexity metrics paper in Royal Society Interface to ensure accessibility of data and code. |
| URL | https://zenodo.org/record/4037220 |
| Description | FameLab Three Minute Thesis London Final Talk |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I gave a talk for the three minute thesis competition, which I made it into the London FameLab final to compete. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9er61povzRo |
| Description | Hullabaloo Festival - science stand |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | We had a stand for the Hullabaloo festival that looked at stem cells as part of the The Anatomy Society. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | NHM and BBC Lates at The Natural History Museum |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I had a stand at the NHM Lates in collaboration with BBC Seven Worlds One Planet, for the release of the new series and media engagement. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.nhm.ac.uk/events/lates.html |
| Description | NatureLive Talks at The Natural History Museum |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Members of the public visiting the Natural History Museum, attended a discussion and interview I presented relating to my PhD - mammal evolution and adaption to arid environments. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEm2iLPzCmc&list=PL6w4ihPqk5_LCRt5zst8q7HrKlxiGP0gA&index=54 |
| Description | NatureLive Talks at The Natural History Museum |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Members of the public visiting the Natural History Museum, attended a discussion and interview I presented relating to my PhD - mammal evolution and adaption. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019,2020 |
| URL | https://www.nhm.ac.uk/visit/whats-on.html?group=naturelive |
| Description | New Scientist Live - science stand |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I had a stand at the New Scientist live expo talking about stem cells and the work at King's College London |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://live.newscientist.com/2018-official-show-guide#/ |
| Description | Organisation of the joint British Ecological Society and Linnean Society Student Futures and Research Conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | I was a part of a team of 6 people working to organise the British Ecological Society and Linnean Society Student Futures and Research Conference. This event took place on 4th-5th March 2021 which aimed to give students an insight into PhD research in the field and future career options. It consisted of a number of workshops, panel discussions, talks and online networking. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.linnean.org/meetings-and-events/events/sfarconf |