Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 29, 2026
12:40
High Throughput Microinjections of Sea Urchin Zygotes
Published on: January 22, 2014
The evolution of echinoderm development is driven by several distinct factors
1Department of Ecology and Evolution, State University of New York at Stony Brook 11794, USA.
Development (Cambridge, England). Supplement
|January 1, 1994
Summary
Evolutionary developmental biology in echinoderms shows three patterns: larval ecology drives some changes, adult morphology influences others, and some evolve neutrally. These findings reveal key mechanisms shaping early development.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary developmental biology
- Comparative genomics
- Phylogenetics
Background:
- Understanding the evolutionary drivers of developmental processes is crucial in biology.
- Echinoderms provide a valuable model system for studying evolutionary changes in development due to their diverse life histories.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the evolutionary patterns and mechanisms underlying developmental changes in echinoderms.
- To determine why certain developmental processes evolve while others do not.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of gene expression, cell fate specification, and morphogenetic movements across multiple echinoderm species.
- Mapping developmental data onto phylogenetic frameworks to identify evolutionary patterns.
Main Results:
- Three distinct evolutionary patterns were identified: 1) developmental changes linked to larval ecology, 2) changes associated with adult morphology, and 3) changes with no apparent phenotypic consequences (neutral evolution).
- Larval ecology appears to be a significant factor influencing early development evolution in echinoderms.
- Some developmental changes may evolve neutrally, without direct selection pressures from morphology or life history.
Conclusions:
- At least three distinct evolutionary mechanisms shape early development in echinoderms.
- Larval ecology, adult morphology, and neutral evolution are key factors driving developmental evolution.
- Future research involving further comparative data and experimental manipulations can test these hypotheses.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:33Cleavage and Blastulation
After a large-single-celled zygote is produced via fertilization, the process of cleavage occurs while zygotes travel through the uterine tube. Cleavage is a mitotic cell division that does not result in growth. With each round of successive cell division, daughter cells get increasingly smaller.
01:56Gastrulation
Gastrulation establishes the three primary tissues of an embryo: the ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. This developmental process relies on a series of intricate cellular movements, which in humans transforms a flat, “bilaminar disc” composed of two cell sheets into a three-tiered structure. In the resulting embryo, the endoderm serves as the bottom layer, and stacked directly above it is the intermediate mesoderm, and then the uppermost ectoderm. Respectively, these tissue strata will form...
01:30Neurulation
Neurulation is the embryological process which forms the precursors of the central nervous system and occurs after gastrulation has established the three primary cell layers of the embryo: ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. In humans, the majority of this system is formed via primary neurulation, in which the central portion of the ectoderm—originally appearing as a flat sheet of cells—folds upwards and inwards, sealing off to form a hollow neural tube. As development proceeds, the anterior...
01:51Determination
During embryogenesis, cells become progressively committed to different fates through a two-step process: specification followed by determination. Specification is demonstrated by removing a segment of an early embryo, “neutrally” culturing the tissue in vitro—for example, in a petri dish with simple medium—and then observing the derivatives. If the cultured region gives rise to cell types that it would normally generate in the embryo, this means that it is specified. In contrast, determination...
02:55The Evidence for Evolution
Genetic variations accumulating within populations over generations give rise to biological evolution. Evolutionary changes can result in the formation of novel varieties and entire new species. These changes are responsible for the diverse forms of life inhabiting the planet. The evidence for evolution suggests that all living organisms descended from common ancestors.The collection of fossils within sedimentary rocks give a record of common ancestry and often depicts the history of evolution.
01:10Zygotic Development And Stem Cell Formation
The development of all multicellular organisms starts with the fusion of haploid cells called sperm and egg to form a diploid zygote. A zygote is a totipotent cell that can develop into a complete organism. The zygote undergoes cell division or cleavage to form an 8-cell mass. Until this stage, the cells are spherical, loosely attached, and remain totipotent. Totipotent cells are capable of developing both the embryonic and the extraembryonic tissues. However, as they continue to divide, they...