Evolution and Environment Flashcards
What is phylogeny in the context of evolution and development?
refers to the emergence of forms through evolution, showing changes in morphology across species
What is the phylotypic stage, and why is it significant?
the most conserved stage in development, with similarities across species, highlighting their evolutionary relatedness.
How do Hox gene mutations in flies and humans affect development?
- Hox gene mutations can cause variations in morphology
- such as ectopic wings in flies and organization of the nervous system, vertebral column, and limbs in humans.
What is metazoa, and how do vertebrates differ in their genetic sequence?
- refers to multicellular animals
- Vertebrates have undergone two rounds of whole-genome duplication, leading to conserved genetic sequences in their divisions
- We have 4 of each: FGF, Hedgehogs, Wnt, BMP
What is heterotopy in the context of alterations in gene expression?
- refers to changes in the location of gene expression, affecting the formation of digits, like in the bat wing
How does heterochrony affect the development of opossums?
- causes differences in the timing of gene expression
- resulting in opossums being born with developed jaws and hindlimbs but an incompletely developed spinal cord
What is heterometry, and how does it relate to beak morphology in finches?
- refers to changes in the amount of gene expression. In finches
- increased BMP4 expression is linked to deep and broad beaks, while calmodulin leads to smaller beaks
What is heterotypy, and how does it explain variations in the number of legs in insects?
- involves changes in the type of gene expression. In insects, the expression of Ubx suppresses limb formation in Drosophila but not in Artemia
- leading to variations in the number of legs
What is heterotypy, and how does it explain variations in the number of legs in insects?
- involves changes in the type of gene expression. In insects, the expression of Ubx suppresses limb formation in Drosophila but not in Artemia
- leading to variations in the number of legs
: Discuss the importance of regulatory changes versus changes to the protein coding sequence
- Regulatory changes play a significant role in evolution, as alterations in gene expression can lead to diverse phenotypes
- while changes to the protein coding sequence may have less impact on overall development
: Discuss the importance of regulatory changes versus changes to the protein coding sequence
- Regulatory changes play a significant role in evolution, as alterations in gene expression can lead to diverse phenotypes
- while changes to the protein coding sequence may have less impact on overall development
Provide examples of how gene expression can change
examples include heterotopy (change in location), heterochrony (change in time), heterometry (change in amount), and heterotypy (change in type) of gene expression.
What role does whole genome duplication play in the vertebrate genome?
- whole genome duplication in vertebrates has led to the presence of four copies of critical genes (e.g., FGF, Hedgehogs, Wnt, BMP), contributing to evolutionary innovations.
How does alteration of gene expression lead to phenotypic variation?
- Changes in gene expression patterns during development can lead to different phenotypes, affecting formation of structures and functions in organisms
What is the significance of developmental biology in understanding evolution?
helps comprehend the evolutionary history of organisms by studying how changes in genetic expression & development contribute to morphological diversity
