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The snail Ilyanassa: a reemerging model for studies in development.
Maey Gharbiah1, James Cooley, Esther M Leise
1Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA.
Cold Spring Harbor Protocols
|February 12, 2010
Summary
The marine snail Ilyanassa obsoleta is a valuable model organism for studying embryonic development, particularly the spiralian development program. Its accessibility and suitability for various techniques make it ideal for research.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Marine Biology
- Zoology
Background:
- Ilyanassa obsoleta serves as a crucial model organism in developmental biology.
- It is particularly important for understanding the spiralian development program, a key mode of early development in many animal phyla.
- Despite its importance, the spiralian development program remains poorly understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an overview of the biology of Ilyanassa obsoleta.
- To highlight its utility as a model organism for embryonic development studies.
- To discuss its suitability for both classic embryological manipulations and modern molecular approaches.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on Ilyanassa obsoleta biology and its use in research.
- Compilation of information on the organism's life cycle, accessibility, and reproductive capacity.
- Discussion of experimental techniques applicable to Ilyanassa obsoleta embryos.
Main Results:
- Ilyanassa obsoleta is readily obtainable and easily maintained in laboratory settings.
- The organism produces abundant embryos year-round, facilitating continuous research.
- Its embryos are amenable to a wide range of experimental manipulations, from classic techniques to molecular methods.
Conclusions:
- Ilyanassa obsoleta is a well-established and highly effective model organism for studying embryonic development.
- Its biological characteristics make it exceptionally suitable for investigating the spiralian development program.
- The combination of accessibility and experimental tractability ensures its continued importance in developmental biology research.
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