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Evo-devo aspects of classical and molecular data in a historical perspective
Klaus Sander1, Urs Schmidt-Ott
1Institut für Biologie I (Zoologie), D-79104 Freiburg, Germany. Klaus.Sander@biologie.uni-freiburg.de
Summary
Evolutionary development (evo-devo) explores how developmental processes change over time. Recent molecular data reveal evolutionary opportunism in gene networks, impacting host speciation and body plan evolution.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary developmental biology
- Molecular evolution
- Genetics
Background:
- Historical context of evolutionary theory from Darwin and Haeckel.
- Challenges in early embryology and homology concepts.
- Emergence of ontogenetic networks and regulatory gene functions.
Observation:
- Molecular data reveal evolutionary opportunism in developmental gene recruitment.
- Bacterial manipulation of host development can influence speciation.
- Conserved gene expression patterns demonstrate body plan evolution.
Findings:
- Ontogenetic networks exhibit complex regulatory properties and gene overlap.
- Signaling pathways are repurposed for new developmental roles (e.g., insect axis determination).
- Novel genes can integrate into existing networks, altering developmental pathways ('molecular caenogenesis').
Implications:
- Understanding evolutionary opportunism in development is key to comprehending macroevolutionary patterns.
- Bacterial symbionts can drive host speciation through developmental manipulation.
- Revisiting historical hypotheses of body plan evolution (e.g., dorso-ventral inversion) with molecular evidence.