LARSEN, E.W.; CHEUNG, U.; DWORKIN, I.; Univeristy of Toronto; University of Toronto; University of Toronto: Designing: an approach to evolutionary developmental biology

Why are morphological traits highly constrained in some taxa but widely varying in others? Arthropod segmentation is a case in point, myriapods and crustacea vary in numbers of segments whereas insects are said to have a maximum of 14 non-head segments. One explanation is that there are developmental constraints in insects. To test this explanation we are designing fruit flies to create a 15 th segment. using transgenes . We will discuss designs and progress to date.