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Updated: Oct 1, 2025
09:26
Quantification of Orofacial Phenotypes in Xenopus
Published on: November 6, 2014
9.9K
Normal development in Xenopus laevis: A complementary staging table for the skull based on cartilage and bone
Erin M MacKenzie1, Jade B Atkins1, Dana E Korneisel1
1Department of Earth Sciences, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Summary
This study details Xenopus laevis skull development, providing a comprehensive staging table that correlates skeletal changes with external features. It enhances understanding of developmental timing and aids in specimen staging using skull morphology.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Comparative Anatomy
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Xenopus laevis is a key model organism in genetics, development, and evolution.
- Existing staging tables for Xenopus laevis primarily use external features and lack detailed skull development information.
- Accurate staging is crucial for understanding developmental processes and evolutionary trajectories.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a detailed description of skull development in Xenopus laevis.
- To correlate skull development with the established external staging table.
- To create a resource for researchers studying Xenopus laevis development and evolution.
Main Methods:
- Detailed observation and documentation of skull ossification and morphology.
- Correlation of skeletal development with external anatomical features across established stages.
- Use of labeled figures to illustrate skull development at each stage.
Main Results:
- Skull development in Xenopus laevis largely aligns with external anatomical stages.
- Variations in the timing of ossification onset for specific skull bones were observed.
- The sequence of bone ossification is more consistent than the timing of its initiation.
Conclusions:
- The developed staging table accurately depicts bone appearance and temporal variance in Xenopus laevis skull development.
- This resource improves the ability to stage specimens based on skull morphology alone.
- The findings enhance the utility of Xenopus laevis as a model for developmental and evolutionary studies.
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