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Published on: February 28, 2017
The sea spider's contribution to T.H. Morgan's (1866-1945) development
1Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology and Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachussets 02138, USA. amaxmen@post.harvard.edu
Summary
T.H. Morgan
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Zoology
Background:
- T.H. Morgan's early research focused on sea spider ontogeny and phylogeny.
- His 1891 dissertation explored the use of embryology in phylogenetic analysis during a period of conceptual shifts.
Discussion:
- Morgan encountered challenges in linking sea spider development to inheritance and variation.
- Specific difficulties included understanding embryonic cleavage, homologous appendage development, and larval stage evolvability.
Key Insights:
- The abstract highlights the limitations of early embryology in establishing phylogenetic relationships.
- Morgan's struggles revealed gaps in understanding the interplay of inheritance and developmental processes.
Outlook:
- Dissatisfied with untestable phylogenetic hypotheses, Morgan shifted to experimental biology.
- This marked a move towards constructing systems to rigorously test developmental hypotheses.
