Ontogeny of the anuran urostyle: the developmental context of an evolutionary novelty

The urostyle, a composite skeletal structure formed at the onset of metamorphosis in frogs, is considered a structural novelty. Despite its evolutionary importance, major aspects of its development and evolution remain enigmatic. The urostyle forms by fusion of the mesoderm- derived coccyx with the endoderm- or superficial mesoderm-derived hypochord when the tadpoles metamorphose into frogs. During this period, a remarkable transition from swimming using fins/tails (in tadpoles) to jumping, walking, digging, climbing, and swimming using limbs (in adults) occurs (an axial-driven to a limb-driven transition). Focusing on the ontogenetic and genetic underpinnings of development of the urostyle, we highlight how the changes to an underlying ancestral gene regulatory network would eventually alter the phenotype and genotype, giving rise to evolutionary novelties.

Meeting ID: 675 7479 1130
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https://learn.zoom.us/j/67574791130?pwd=NUdDeUZGemFlZ1ZBWGVJcjlRWTVuUT09

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