PHILLIPS, M.R. *; JOHNSON, E.A.; TERWILLIGER, N.B. ; University of Oregon; University of Oregon; University of Oregon: Exploring the Functional Genomics of Development and Adaptation in Cancer magister Cancer magister, the Dungeness crab, is a commercially and recreationally important species on the West coast of North America. It spends the early stages of its life […]

MAZZA, M.E.**; RYAN, J.F.; MULLIKIN, J.C.; ROKSHAR, D.S.; FINNERTY, J.R.; Boston University, MA; Boston University, MA; National Human Genome Research Institute, Bethesda, MD; DOE, Joint Genome Institute, Walnut Creek, CA; Boston University, MA: Evolutionarily conserved and derived homeobox clusters in the starlet sea anemone Nematostella vectensis Sequencing of the first non-bilaterian metazoan genome, the starlet […]

MASLAKOVA, S. A.*; MATZ, M. V.; University of Washington, Friday Harbor Labs; University of Florida, Whitney Laboratory: Evolution of Larval Development in Nemerteans (Phylum Nemertea) The origin of morphological diversity is the central question of evolutionary developmental biology. Nemerteans, a poorly understood lophotrochozoan phylum, present a particularly interesting study group in this respect, because they […]

OLLIKAINEN, N.*; CHANDSAWANGBHUWANA, C.; Univ. of California, San Diego: Evolution of Ecdysone and Thyroid Hormone Receptors Ecdysone and thyroid hormone are two ligands that have important roles in regulating metamorphosis in animals. Ecdysone is a steroid, that regulates molting in insects. Thyroid hormone is a non-steroidal ligand, that regulates differentiation and development in fish and […]

ZENG, L.*; SWALLA, B. J.; University of Washington; University of Washington: Evolution of Coloniality in the Tunicates: How many times has it evolved? The phylogenetic relationships of ascidians are very important for studying Chordate and Deuterostome evolution. We are studying phylogenetic relationships in order to understand the evolution of coloniality in the tunicates. Coloniality and […]

CASTOE, T.A.; STEPHENS, T.S.*; PARKINSON, C.L.; CALESTANI, C.; University of Central Florida; University of Central Florida; University of Central Florida; University of Central Florida: Evidence for complex evolutionary origins of a sea urchin polyketide synthase gene Polyketide synthases (PKSs) are a large family of multifunctional proteins identified mainly in bacteria, fungi and plants. A polyketide […]

PARK, A.P.*; WIBBELS, T.; LIRA-R., D.; CASTRO-MARTINEZ, M.; VEGA-M., L.; BURCHFIELD, P.; PENA-V., J.; SHROEDER, B.; Univ. of Alabama at Birmingham; Univ. of Alabama at Birmingham; Gladys Porter Zoo; Gladys Porter Zoo; Gladys Porter Zoo; Gladys Porter Zoo; Gladys Porter Zoo; NOAA Fisheries: Episodic Production of Male-Biased Hatchling Sex Ratios in the Kemp’s Ridley Sea […]

WONG, C. K.*; HOSHIZAKI, D. K.; GIBBS, A. G.; Univ. of Nevada, Las Vegas: Energetics of Metamorphosis in Drosophila melanogaster In preparation for metamorphosis, the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster undergoes numerous physical reconstructions within the pupal case, suggesting an increase in energy consumption to sustain these changes. However, metabolic rates during pupation actually decline approximately […]

DONNELLY, M J*; WALTERS, L J; University of Central Florida; University of Central Florida: Effects of the exotic Brazilian pepper in a Florida mangrove ecosystem Disturbances to mangrove ecosystems in Florida potentially leave them vulnerable to exotic plants, such as Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius). Although mangrove forests are difficult to invade by terrestrial species, observations […]

ROZMAN, R.; MENON, J.M.*; William Paterson University, New Jersey; William Paterson University, New Jersey: Effects of retinol and phytol on oxidative stress during anuran metamorphosis and regeneration. Retinoic acid, a metabolite of retinol (vitamin A) is a common teratogen causing several embryonic malformations and changes in pattern formation in amphibians. The diverse activities of retinoids […]