Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Changes in the Appendicular Skeleton with Age01:09

Changes in the Appendicular Skeleton with Age

2.7K
The upper and lower limb initially develops as a small bulge called a limb bud, which appears on the lateral side of the early embryo. The upper limb bud appears near the end of the fourth week of development, with the lower limb bud appearing shortly after.
Initially, the limb buds consist of a core of mesenchyme covered by a layer of ectoderm. The ectoderm at the end of the limb bud thickens to form a narrow crest called the apical ectodermal ridge. This ridge stimulates the underlying...
2.7K
Phylogeny01:23

Phylogeny

54.0K
Phylogeny is concerned with the evolutionary diversification of organisms or groups of organisms. A group of organisms with a name is called a taxon (singular). Taxa (plural) can span different levels of the evolutionary hierarchy. For instance, the group containing all birds is a taxon (comprising the class Aves), and the group of all species of daisies (the genus Bellis) is a taxon. Phylogenies can likewise include just one genus (i.e., depict species relationships) or span an entire kingdom.
54.0K
Convergent Evolution01:54

Convergent Evolution

29.4K
Evolution shapes the features of organisms over time, ensuring that they are suited for the environments in which they live. Sometimes, selection pressure leads to the rise of similar but unrelated adaptations in organisms with no recent common ancestors, a process known as convergent evolution.
29.4K
Speciation Rates01:07

Speciation Rates

21.7K
Overview
21.7K
Development of the Limb Synovial Joints01:07

Development of the Limb Synovial Joints

1.7K
Joints form during embryonic development in conjunction with the formation and growth of the associated bones. The embryonic tissue that gives rise to all bones, cartilage, and connective tissues of the body is called mesenchyme.
The mesenchymal stem cells differentiate into chondrocytes that form the hyaline cartilage, and later the cartilaginous model of the bone. This model further transforms into a bone. This process is known as endochondral ossification.
During development, the limbs...
1.7K
Accessory Structures of the Skin: Nails01:05

Accessory Structures of the Skin: Nails

2.4K
Nails are one of the important accessory structures of the skin. They are hard, protective structures that cover the dorsal surface of the distal phalanges of fingers and toes. Nails are composed of specialized keratinized cells and serve various functions, including protection, sensation, and manual dexterity.
The main components of a nail include the following.
Nail Plate: The nail plate is the visible portion of the nail that extends beyond the fingertips or toes. It is a hard, translucent...
2.4K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Musculo-skeletal variation in the forelimb of two highly specialised diggers (genus Talpa).

Journal of anatomy·2026
Same author

From head to tail: does habitat use drive morphological variation in snakes?

Journal of evolutionary biology·2026
Same author

Thermal and immunological stress modulate the locomotor performance of female <i>Xenopus laevis</i> frogs.

Conservation physiology·2026
Same author

Endocranial morphology in worm lizards (Amphisbaenia, Squamata): multiple neuroanatomical solutions to a fossorial lifestyle.

Proceedings. Biological sciences·2026
Same author

Anatomical description of the jaw muscles and theoretical bite force assessment in South American opossums using manual and digital dissection methods.

Journal of anatomy·2026
Same author

The Impact of Substrate Properties on the Kinematics of Locomotion in a Limb-Reduced Skink, Ablepharus kitaibelii (Squamata: Scincidae).

Journal of experimental zoology. Part A, Ecological and integrative physiology·2026
Same journal

Chronic limb loading results in remarkable load carriage economy in growing fowl.

Proceedings. Biological sciences·2026
Same journal

Motion-from-structure in face perception: expectations of natural face motion depend on face shape.

Proceedings. Biological sciences·2026
Same journal

Unification and generalization of models of zygote survival.

Proceedings. Biological sciences·2026
Same journal

Phenological type- and diameter-dependent effects of individual light availability and interannual climate variation on tree growth.

Proceedings. Biological sciences·2026
Same journal

Interaction range of common goods shapes Black Queen dynamics beyond the cheater-cooperator narrative.

Proceedings. Biological sciences·2026
Same journal

Stingray spine diversity reflects performance trade-offs linked to puncture and breakability.

Proceedings. Biological sciences·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 7, 2025

A Whole Mount In Situ Hybridization Method for the Gastropod Mollusc Lymnaea stagnalis
07:33

A Whole Mount In Situ Hybridization Method for the Gastropod Mollusc Lymnaea stagnalis

Published on: March 15, 2016

9.0K

Development and function explain the modular evolution of phalanges in gecko lizards.

Priscila S Rothier1,2, Monique N Simon3, Gabriel Marroig3

  • 1Department of Biology, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, 3900 Avenida dos Bandeirantes, 14040-901, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.

Proceedings. Biological Sciences
|January 12, 2022
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Gecko digit evolution shows that bone modules are dynamic, influenced by adhesive toepads. Padless geckos exhibit strong distal bone integration, suggesting adaptation for adhesion.

Keywords:
autopodiummodularitymorphologyphalangestoepad

More Related Videos

Dissection and Flat-mounting of the Threespine Stickleback Branchial Skeleton
08:02

Dissection and Flat-mounting of the Threespine Stickleback Branchial Skeleton

Published on: May 7, 2016

10.0K
In Situ Hybridization Techniques for Paraffin-Embedded Adult Coral Samples
07:24

In Situ Hybridization Techniques for Paraffin-Embedded Adult Coral Samples

Published on: August 31, 2018

7.2K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Oct 7, 2025

A Whole Mount In Situ Hybridization Method for the Gastropod Mollusc Lymnaea stagnalis
07:33

A Whole Mount In Situ Hybridization Method for the Gastropod Mollusc Lymnaea stagnalis

Published on: March 15, 2016

9.0K
Dissection and Flat-mounting of the Threespine Stickleback Branchial Skeleton
08:02

Dissection and Flat-mounting of the Threespine Stickleback Branchial Skeleton

Published on: May 7, 2016

10.0K
In Situ Hybridization Techniques for Paraffin-Embedded Adult Coral Samples
07:24

In Situ Hybridization Techniques for Paraffin-Embedded Adult Coral Samples

Published on: August 31, 2018

7.2K

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary developmental biology
  • Comparative morphology
  • Biomechanics

Background:

  • Functional specialization can alter covariation among phenotypic traits.
  • Tetrapod phalanges typically develop from conserved modules, constraining proportions.
  • Gecko adhesive toepads involve autopodium variation, potentially reorganizing modular structures.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To test developmental versus functional hypotheses for gecko hand bone modularity.
  • To compare modular architecture between gecko lineages with and without adhesive toepads.
  • To investigate how selective regimes associated with adhesive toepads influence digit evolution.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of hand bone modularity in padded and padless gecko species.
  • Testing of two hypotheses: one based on developmental interactions, another on functional associations.
  • Empirical evaluation of module support across different gecko lineages.

Main Results:

  • Strong evidence for developmental modules in most gecko species, indicating embryological constraints.
  • Padless geckos show high integration in a distal functional module, despite padded species having distal phalangeal specialization.
  • Ancestrally padless geckos with weak phalangeal modules and strong distal modules suggest adaptation to incipient frictional adhesion.

Conclusions:

  • Digit element modularity in geckos is dynamic and evolutionarily plastic.
  • The presence or absence of adhesive toepads is strongly associated with shifts in digit modularity.
  • Functional demands, particularly those related to adhesion, can override or modify developmental constraints on bone morphology.