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Epigenetic regulation of development links adaption and diversification of skeletal phenotypes: a case study in shrews
Author(s) -
Young Rebecca L,
Badyaev Alexander V
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.24.1_supplement.61.1
Subject(s) - biology , epigenetics , phenotype , phenotypic plasticity , evolutionary biology , diversification (marketing strategy) , ontogeny , adaptation (eye) , developmental biology , genetics , neuroscience , gene , marketing , business
A major goal of evolutionary biology is to understand how diversity is generated. One hypothesis suggests that evolutionary change is facilitated by environmental sensitivity of development and the associated modifications of organismal development that induce selectable phenotypic variation. In vertebrates, growth and development of bones is partially guided by contractions of the attached musculature. During ontogeny, this muscle activity changes from sporadic motility to functional use. Thus, shifts in timing of ossification can either buffer development from environmental signals, or enable environmental signals to influence bone development and generate specialized skeletal adaptations. Here, we outline a conceptual framework for future studies that focuses on mediation of phenotypic plasticity in skeletal development through changes in developmental timing and provide evidence for the importance of developmental timing for adaptation and diversification in shrews.