SERVEDIO, M.R.*; LANDE, R.; University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; University of California, San Diego: Coevolution of an avian host and its brood parasite We model the coevolution of host and cuckoo egg characters (termed �size� as a proxy for general appearance), host discrimination, and host and cuckoo population dynamics. Hosts use an evolving, comparative […]

ADAMO, S.A.; Dalhousie University: A good male is hard to find – problems in identifying an ‘immunocompetent’ male Immune systems are composed of a number of separate physiological mechanisms. Therefore, different pathogens can induce different immune responses. In the cricket Gryllus texensis we found that lysozyme-like activity correlated with resistance to the bacterium Bacillus cereus […]

BARON, M.P.; Univ. of New Hampshire: Retinoic Acid Stimulates Pigmentation Development In Summer Flounder: Insight Into Nuclear Receptor Dynamics This study examined the effect of retinoic acid (RA) on pigmentation development in summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus). Flounder larvae were immersed in 5 and 10 nM concentrations of RA for a period of 10 days, and […]

BOLKER, J.A.; VAN CISE, A.; HAKALA, T.F.; Univ. of New Hampshire, Durham: Pigmentation development in summer flounder Flounders offer a remarkable opportunity to study the developmental patterning and differentiation of pigment cells. As in other ectotherms, overall pigmentation is based on the morphology and distribution of several types of chromatophores, of which melanophores are the […]

TANAKA, K; TRUMAN, JW; University of Washington: Morphogenesis of the adult legs in Manduca sexta: contribution of different larval cell populations The tobacco hornworm Manduca sexta, like most other insects with complete metamorphosis, makes two versions of thoracic legs. The relatively simple thoracic legs of the larva are formed during embryogenesis. All the epidermal cells […]

VEILLETTE, P.A.*; GARCIA, M.M.; HINKLE, L.; SPECKER, J.L.; University of Rhode Island; University of Rhode Island; University of Rhode Island; University of Rhode Island: Detection of Glucocorticoid-Like Receptor During Stomach Organogenesis in Summer Flounder The stomach is an important organ, both physiologically and ecologically. Little is known about the endocrine regulation of stomach organogenesis. However, […]

BUCHHOLZ, D.R.; TOMITA, A.; FU, L.; SHI, Y.-B.; LGRD/NICHD/NIH: A dominant positive thyroid hormone receptor induces gene regulation and metamorphic transformation in the absence of thyroid hormone in vivo in transgenic frogs Frog metamorphosis is completely dependent on thyroid hormone. The effects of thyroid hormone are believed to be mediated by thyroid hormone receptors, although […]

HOWDESHELL, K.L.; SACHS, L.; DEMENEIX, B.; DENVER, R.J.; Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Museum National D-Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France; Museum National D-Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France; Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor: A Role for Basic Transcription Element Binding Protein (BTEB1) in the Autoinduction of the Xenopus laevis Thyroid Hormone Receptor Beta (TRβ) gene Basic transcription element […]

STORZ, Brian/L; Florida State University: A Reassement of the Proximate Mechanisms of Polyphenism in Spadefoot Toad Tadpoles Understanding the proximate mechanism of ontogenetic polyphenism is the first step in gaining a mechanistic and evolutionary understanding of the factors responsible for the control and evolution of polyphenism. Tadpoles of the spadefoot toad Spea multiplicata can display […]

DAVIDSON, Brad; SHI, Weiyang; LEVINE, Michael; UC Berkeley; UC Berkeley; UC Berkeley: Origins of the Chordate Heart Prevailing models of vertebrate/arthropod heart development focus on a conserved network of BMP signaling molecules and GATA-4 and Nkx-2.5 transcription factors functioning during gastrulation. There is mounting evidence for an earlier specification event in vertebrates, although the underlying […]