The insect central complex as model for heterochronic brain development-background, concepts, and tools

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Evolutionary Biology
• Developmental Biology

Background:

• Insect brains exhibit diverse neuropil morphology and developmental timing across species.
• Genetic mechanisms driving insect brain evolution and heterochrony remain largely unknown.
• Drosophila melanogaster is a primary model, but comparative studies are needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• Propose a novel comparative approach using genome editing to study insect brain evolution.
• Investigate cellular and genetic mechanisms underlying neuropil diversity and heterochronic development.
• Utilize comparative genomics and developmental timing to understand brain diversification.

Main Methods:

• Employ genome editing to label homologous neural cells in Drosophila, Tribolium, and Gryllus.
• Analyze heterochrony in central complex development across species.
• Develop and apply tools for Tribolium brain research, including 3D reconstruction and transgenic lines.

Main Results:

• Highlight heterochrony in central complex development: embryonic in Gryllus, larval/metamorphic in Drosophila, partial embryonic in Tribolium.
• Present new tools for Tribolium brain research, including imaging lines and reporter lines.
• Characterize reporter lines for mushroom bodies and neuroblast marker Tc-asense in Tribolium.

Conclusions:

• Comparative studies using genome editing are crucial for understanding insect brain evolution.
• Heterochrony in developmental timing significantly contributes to brain diversification.
• Advanced tools for model organisms like Tribolium facilitate comparative neurodevelopmental research.