Study toward evolutionary formulation of vertebrate embryogenesis

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24570243
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Developmental biology
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo (2013-2014); The Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (2012)
• Principal Investigator: IRIE Naoki 東京大学, 理学(系)研究科(研究院), 准教授 (10536121)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 進化 / 発生学 / バイオインフォマティクス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

While vertebrates showed amazing morphological variations through evolution, they kept their basic anatomical features (or body plan) strictly conserved. The reason for this body plan conservation is still unclear. Our study tackled this problem by collecting and analyzing gene expression data for two frog species, and found that vertebrate body plan establishing stage is the stage of highest conservation. Although we could not clarify the exact mechanisms for the conservation, we have obtained inspiring hints to this problem.

Free Research Field

進化発生学