Major
Molecular Biology
Anticipated Graduation Year
2022
Access Type
Open Access
Abstract
Many threespine stickleback populations have independently evolved pelvic reduction, often due to independent mutations causing reduced Pitx1 expression. Notably, hindlimb reduction based on reduced Pitx1 expression produces left-larger directional asymmetry in the vestiges. Using this phenotypic signature, we tested for hindlimb directional asymmetry in six genera of squamate reptiles that have independently evolved some level of hindlimb reduction. Significant left-larger asymmetry occurred in one taxon, suggesting modification of Pitx1 expression. However, there was either no directional asymmetry or right-larger asymmetry in the remaining taxa, suggesting multiple developmental genetic pathways to hindlimb reduction in squamates and the vertebrates more generally.
Community Partners
The Field Museum of Natural History, Museum of Comparative Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, University of California Museum of Paleontology
Faculty Mentors & Instructors
Dr. Yoel Stuart, Assistant Professor, Department of Biology; Samantha Swank, Lab Technician, Department of Biology
Supported By
NSF grant DEB-1456462 to Y.E. Stuart
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.
Genetic Inference From Directional Asymmetry During Convergent Hindlimb Reduction in Squamates
Many threespine stickleback populations have independently evolved pelvic reduction, often due to independent mutations causing reduced Pitx1 expression. Notably, hindlimb reduction based on reduced Pitx1 expression produces left-larger directional asymmetry in the vestiges. Using this phenotypic signature, we tested for hindlimb directional asymmetry in six genera of squamate reptiles that have independently evolved some level of hindlimb reduction. Significant left-larger asymmetry occurred in one taxon, suggesting modification of Pitx1 expression. However, there was either no directional asymmetry or right-larger asymmetry in the remaining taxa, suggesting multiple developmental genetic pathways to hindlimb reduction in squamates and the vertebrates more generally.
Comments
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