SCHWARZ, R.S.*; CADAVID, L.F.; University of New Mexico, Albuquerque; University of New Mexico, Albuquerque: Immunity in lower Metazoans: characterization of CnPolydom, a pentraxin-containing multidomain protein in Cnidaria We have identified a novel 352 aa multidomain protein from the hydroid Hydractinia symbiolongicarpus (Cnidaria; Hydrozoa). This protein is encoded in a 5.5 kb genomic region having 6 […]

SWEENEY, A; JOHNSEN, S; Duke University; Duke University: Evolution of Complex Optics in Squid Lenses Squid lenses are composed primarily of S-crystallins, structural proteins derived from multiple duplications of the enzymatic liver protein glutathione s-transferase. In some squid species, lenses are sophisticated optical instruments, with a graded refractive index that corrects for spherical aberration and […]

SKOPEC, M.M.; HALEY, S.L.; DEARING, M.D.; University of Utah; University of Utah; University of Utah: Differential gene expression in the livers of a dietary specialist versus generalist species of woodrat. Differential abilities to detoxify the plant secondary compounds present in juniper (Juniperus monosperma) are implicated as a major reason for the disparate juniper tolerances of […]

WESTON, J.L.*; RAMSDELL, C.M.; NAPIER, S.C.; BULLARD-DILLARD, R.; BRAITHWAITE, C.; EXETER, H.; GLENN, T.C.; DEWEY, M.J.; Peromyscus Genetic Stock Center, Univ. of South Carolina; Peromyscus Genetic Stock Center, Univ. of South Carolina; Peromyscus Genetic Stock Center, Univ. of South Carolina; Claflin Univ., South Carolina; Claflin Univ., South Carolina; Claflin Univ., South Carolina; Savannah River Ecology […]

SEARS, K.E.*; BEHRINGER, R.R.; NISWANDER, L.A.; University of Colorado Health Sciences Center; M.D. Anderson Cancer Center; University of Colorado Health Sciences Center: The morphologic and genetic evolution of bat wing digits Bats suddenly appear in the fossil record about 50 million years ago. The earliest bats resemble their modern counterparts in possessing the anatomical hallmarks […]

HANDRIGAN, G. R.; WASSERSUG, R. J.; Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada: The case of the anuran backbone: Missing vertebrae and genetic culprits Nearly all anuran (frog and toad) species have less than a dozen discrete vertebral elements, some as few as 8. They are thus the vertebrates with the least vertebrae. Paradoxically, anuran vertebrae arise from […]

SANTINI, F; Museum Nationalle d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris: Fish fins, morphological modularity and evo-devo Ocean sunfishes (molas) are a small clade of pelagic fishes, closely related to pufferfishes. Molas are very active swimmers, in spite of the fact that they lack the spiny dorsal fin, the pelvic fins and possess a very modified structure (the psudocaudal […]

GALIS, F.; METZ, J.A.J.; Leiden University; idem: Developmental Mechanisms underlying the Conservation of the seven cervical Vertebrae The number of cervical vertebrae is extremely conserved in mammals. Yet, studies on fetal deaths in humans show that new mutants with an effect on this number are common. This indicates that evolutionary conservation is caused by strong […]

HALLGRIMSSON, Benedikt; BROWN, Jevon J.Y.; FORD-HTCHINSON, Alice F.; JIRIK, Frank R.; University of Calgary; University of Calgary; University of Calgary; University of Calgary: CANALIZATION AND MORPHOLOGICAL INTEGRATION OF CRANIOFACIAL MORPHOLOGY IN BRACHYMORPH MICE AS ASSESSED BY COMPUTED MICROTOMOGRAPHY Although it is well recognized that many different mutations potentially influence phenotypic variability as well as the […]

YOUNG, Nathan M.; HALLGRIMSSON, Benedikt; University of Calgary; University of Calgary: A Comparison of Patterns of Forelimb and Hindlimb Covariation in Mammals Within mammals there is remarkable structural diversity in limb morphology, with a variety of functional relationships between and within hind and forelimb elements. Improved understanding of the developmental genetic basis of fore- and […]