Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 11, 2026
09:31
Expression of Fluorescent Proteins in Branchiostoma lanceolatum by mRNA Injection into Unfertilized Oocytes
Published on: January 12, 2015
The active evolutionary lives of echinoderm larvae
1Department of Biology and Indiana Molecular Biology Institute, Indiana University, 150 Myers Hall, 915 E. Third St, Bloomington, IN 47401, USA. rraff@bio.indiana.edu
Heredity
|July 20, 2006
Summary
Echinoderm larval evolution spans 500 million years, with recent micro-evolutionary changes revealing insights into developmental mechanisms. This study reviews echinoderm larval diversity, evolutionary rates, and the role of development in rapid evolutionary events.
Area of Science:
- Marine Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Echinoderm larvae exhibit diverse forms, evolving over vast timescales from the early Palaeozoic to recent rapid changes.
- Understanding larval evolution provides insights into micro-evolutionary processes and developmental mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the evolution of diverse echinoderm larval forms.
- To outline the origins and diversity of echinoderm larvae.
- To examine molecular clocks, evolutionary rates, and the role of developmental regulatory mechanisms in rapid larval evolution.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of echinoderm larval evolution.
- Analysis of fossil records and molecular clock data.
- Examination of developmental regulatory mechanisms in closely related species.
Main Results:
- Echinoderm larval evolution occurred over 500 million years, with significant recent changes within genera.
- Diverse larval forms originated from early Palaeozoic ancestors.
- Developmental regulatory mechanisms play a key role in rapid, radical evolutionary changes in echinoderm larvae.
Conclusions:
- Echinoderm larval evolution offers a model for studying micro-evolutionary processes.
- Recent evolutionary events highlight the impact of developmental mechanisms on speciation.
- Further research into developmental genetics is crucial for understanding echinoderm evolutionary dynamics.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Neurulation
Neurulation is the embryological process which forms the precursors of the central nervous system and occurs after gastrulation has established the three primary cell layers of the embryo: ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. In humans, the majority of this system is formed via primary neurulation, in which the central portion of the ectoderm—originally appearing as a flat sheet of cells—folds upwards and inwards, sealing off to form a hollow neural tube. As development proceeds, the anterior...
01:29Life Histories
Constrained by limited energy and resources, organisms must compromise between offspring quantity and parental investment. This trade-off is represented by two primary reproductive strategies; K-strategists produce few offspring but provide substantial parental support, whereas r-strategists produce much progeny that receives little care. These strategies are related to an organism’s survival likelihood across its lifespan, which is represented by a survivorship curve. Three general types of...
02:55The Evidence for Evolution
Genetic variations accumulating within populations over generations give rise to biological evolution. Evolutionary changes can result in the formation of novel varieties and entire new species. These changes are responsible for the diverse forms of life inhabiting the planet. The evidence for evolution suggests that all living organisms descended from common ancestors.The collection of fossils within sedimentary rocks give a record of common ancestry and often depicts the history of evolution.
01:12Renewal of Skin Epidermal Stem Cells
The skin is divided into epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis, the skin's outermost, middle, and inner layers. The human epidermal layer regularly undergoes renewal, where old, dead cells are replaced by new cells. Epidermal stem cells or EpiSCs divide and differentiate to restore the lost cells. For the renewal process, some EpiSCs continuously self-renew. In contrast, few others differentiate into transit-amplifying cells, which later form prickle or spinous cells, followed by granular cells,...
01:33Whole Body Regeneration
Regeneration is the process of restoring injured or lost tissues, organs, or body parts. While simpler organisms generally show greater ability to regenerate their whole body, few complex animals show similarly exceptional regeneration. For example, planarian flatworms have a unique regenerative potential making them a popular study organism among biologists to understand the mechanisms of whole body regeneration. Other organisms, such as hydra, also show extreme regeneration potential; even...
01:15Diversity of Protists I
Excavata is a diverse group of protists that includes both chemoorganotrophic and phototrophic species, with some thriving in anaerobic environments. Among the key groups within Excavata are diplomonads and parabasalids, which are flagellated protists that lack mitochondria and chloroplasts. These microorganisms typically inhabit anoxic environments, such as the intestines of animals, where they exist either symbiotically or as parasites, relying on fermentation for energy production. Some...