Meeting Abstract 47-1  Tuesday, Jan. 5 10:15  A real lapping matter: the difference between dogs and cats when drinking JUNG, S.*; GART, S.; SOCHA, J.; VLACHOS, P.; Virginia Tech; Virginia Tech; Virginia Tech; Purdue University sunnyjsh@vt.edu Animals that drink must transport water into the mouth using either a pressure-driven or inertia-driven mechanism. Previous work on cats shows […]

Meeting Abstract 47-8  Friday, Jan. 6 09:45 – 10:00  Using RNAseq to Probe the Pre-Neural Character of the Sponge Sensory System MAH, JL*; LEYS, SP; University of Alberta; University of Alberta jmah@ualberta.ca Sponges, an animal without nerves, have an intriguing number of neural developmental and structural genes. Moreover, some demosponges can sense changes in flow and respond […]

Meeting Abstract 47-7  Friday, Jan. 6 09:30 – 09:45  Understanding animal Cell polarity: Insights from early embryogenesis of the ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi. SALINAS-SAAVEDRA, M*; MARTINDALE, MQ; Whitney Marine Lab, University of Florida, Florida; Whitney Marine Lab, University of Florida, Florida mssaavedra@whitney.ufl.edu Par proteins are conserved components of cellular polarization during early embryogenesis and their role in establishing […]

Meeting Abstract 47-6  Friday, Jan. 6 09:15 – 09:30  Tip-links, Usher Syndrome and the Origin of Metazoan Mechanotransduction SPECK, HP*; BURGESS, B; WILLIAMS, D; JACOBS, DK; Univ. of California, Los Angeles; Univ. of California, Los Angeles; Univ. of California, Los Angeles; Univ. of California, Los Angeles hspeck@ucla.edu Similarity of Metazoan mechano-sensory cells as well as sponge choanocytes […]

Meeting Abstract 47-5  Friday, Jan. 6 09:00 – 09:15  Tektin evolution and conservation of ciliary function in a spiralian model system BASTIN, BR*; KHINDURANGALA, LR; SCHNEIDER, SQ; Iowa State University; Iowa State University; Iowa State University brbastin@iastate.edu Tektins are a family of microtubule stabilizing coiled-coil domain proteins. As many as five Tektins have been identified in vertebrates […]

Meeting Abstract 47-1  Friday, Jan. 6 08:00 – 08:15  Roles of the vinculin family proteins in the sponge Ephydatia muelleri MITCHELL, JM*; NICHOLS, SA; University of Denver yinnismc@gmail.com Cell adhesion is a key feature of the multicellular ancestor that was definitive for the origin of Metazoa. Although many of the major cell adhesion systems are ubiquitous and […]

Meeting Abstract 47-3  Friday, Jan. 6 08:30 – 08:45  Kruppel-like factor function in the ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi suggests an ancient role in endoderm development PRESNELL, JS*; BROWNE, WE; University of Miami, FL; Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Washington DC jspresnell@gmail.com In bilaterians the Kruppel-like factors (KLFs) are transcription factors that play critical roles in stem cell […]

Meeting Abstract 47-4  Friday, Jan. 6 08:45 – 09:00  Energetics and the evolution of the glass sponge electrical coordination system KAHN, AS*; LEYS, SP; Univ. of Alberta; Univ. of Alberta kahn@ualberta.ca Glass sponges (Class Hexactinellida) are one of the most abundant filter feeders in the deep ocean. We present our hypothesis that their syncytial body construction arose […]

Meeting Abstract 47-2  Friday, Jan. 6 08:15 – 08:30  Cas9-mediated excision of brachyury in Nematostella vectensis disrupts development of the pharynx, organization of endoderm, and patterning of the oral-aboral axis SERVETNICK, M*; STEINWORTH , B; BABONIS, L; SIMMONS, D; SALINAS-SAAVEDRA, M; MARTINDALE , MQ; University of Washington Bothell ; Whitney Marine Lab, University of Florida ; Whitney […]

Meeting Abstract 47-1  Friday, Jan. 5 08:00 – 08:15  Transcriptomic changes in response to a diel light-dark cycle in Nematostella vectensis, an estuarine anemone LEACH, WB*; PERES, R; MACRANDER, J; REITZEL, AM; University of North Carolina, Charlotte; University of Hawaii Cancer Center; University of North Carolina, Charlotte; University of North Carolina, Charlotte wroger11@uncc.edu Nematostella vectensis, a burrowing […]