Evolution of cellular bones in fishes: a phylogenetic comparative approach

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K14794
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Biodiversity/Systematics
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University
• Principal Investigator: koizumi Itsuro 北海道大学, 地球環境科学研究院, 准教授 (50572799)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): SATO Mari 北海道大学, 歯学研究科, 准教授 (40546488)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 骨細胞 / 進化 / 魚類 / 系統比較 / 平行進化 / 淡水・海水適応

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Osteocyte or cellular bone is crucial for the survival of tetrapods, affecting metabolisms and immune systems. Surprisingly, however, a considerable proportion of fishes do not possess cellular bones. This study investigates the patterns of gains and losses of cellular bones to infer the functional roles of Osteocyte. Occurrence of cellular (or acellular) bones in more than 500 fishes revealed that the ancestral fishes had cellular bones and some lineages have lost independently. Saltwater fishes tented to have acellular bones, although the pattern was weak. So far, no significant correlate has been found, such as habitat and life history types. Future research should compare bone structures among fishes, amphibians, reptiles and birds to clarify the evolution of bone functions.

Free Research Field

進化生態学