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Updated: Aug 14, 2026

Experimental Manipulation of Body Size to Estimate Morphological Scaling Relationships in Drosophila
Published on: October 1, 2011
Comparative developmental genetics and the evolution of arthropod body plans
David R Angelini1, Thomas C Kaufman
1Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269-3043, USA. david.angeliniguconn.edu
Abstract:
The arthropods display a wide range of morphological diversity, varying tagmosis, as well as other aspects of the body plan, such as appendage and cuticular morphology. Here we review the roles of developmental regulatory genes in the evolution of arthropod morphology, with an emphasis on what is known from morphologically diverse species. Examination of tagmatic evolution reveals that these changes have been accompanied by changes in the expression patterns of Hox genes. In contrast, review of the modifications to wing morphology seen in insects shows that these body plan changes have generally favored alterations in downstream target genes. These and other examples are used to discuss the evolutionary implications of comparative developmental genetic data.
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