Developmental Genetics in the Ascidian Ciona intestinalis

The ascidian Ciona intestinalis provides an appealingly simple experimental system for the investigation of the molecular mechanisms underlying cell-fate specification during development. The draft genome sequences and a large EST/cDNA databases supports the study of gene functions. However, forward genetics, as exemplified by germline transgenesis and creation of mutants, has not been developed in the marine invertebrates. Our recent research focused on the establishment of such genetic approaches in Ciona. Currently, creation of stable transgenic lines, enhancer trappings and insertional mutagenesis have been successfully introduced in Ciona with Minos transposon.