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Integrating evolutionarily novel horns within the deeply conserved insect head.

David M Linz1, Armin P Moczek2

  • 1Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA. linzd@iu.edu.

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Summary

Novel insect head traits, like horns, integrate using existing developmental pathways, not new genes. This evo-devo study in horned beetles reveals sex-biased gene regulation and repurposing of embryonic genes for adult head complexity.

Keywords:
Developmental scaffoldingEvolutionary innovationEvolutionary noveltyHorned beetleLatencyOnthophagusSp8cap’n’collarorthodenticleretinal homeobox

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary developmental biology (evo-devo)
  • Insect morphology and genetics

Background:

  • The insect head is an ancient structure with a conserved developmental genetic network.
  • It is also a key area for morphological innovation, particularly for traits like horns.
  • Mechanisms for integrating novel traits within this ancient structure are poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate how novel traits, specifically head horns in Onthophagus beetles, develop and integrate.
  • Understand the genetic and developmental mechanisms underlying morphological innovation in the insect head.

Main Methods:

  • Region-specific RNA sequencing (RNAseq) to analyze gene expression.
  • Gene knockdowns to determine gene function.
  • Comparative analysis of horned and hornless beetle heads.

Main Results:

  • The insect head exhibits compartmentalization along multiple axes with parallels between morphology and gene expression.
  • Head horn development is regulated by sex-biased expression of shared genes, not a unique horn-forming module.
  • Embryonic head patterning genes are re-utilized in post-embryonic development, facilitating trait integration.
  • Several genes, including embryonic head patterning genes, have novel roles in integrating anterior and posterior head horns.

Conclusions:

  • Novel traits integrate into ancient complexes via sex- and species-specific regulation of existing developmental pathways.
  • Morphological innovation in evo-devo often relies on repurposing pre-existing developmental machinery rather than recruiting new genes or networks.