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Evolution of Phenotypic Responses Characterizing Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Among Vertebrate Model Organisms
Author(s) -
Meers Mason B.,
Chinea Angel
Publication year - 2013
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.27.1_supplement.743.1
Subject(s) - taxon , context (archaeology) , biology , phylogenetic tree , evolutionary biology , disease , craniofacial , model organism , autapomorphy , phylogenetics , vertebrate , zoology , genetics , ecology , medicine , pathology , gene , paleontology
Model organism research on fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) crosses a diverse array of taxa without regard to evolutionary relationships. Responses to fetal alcohol exposure can consequently be expected to range widely as the affected genotypes represent taxa divergent for about 600 million years. In this study, we examine the symptoms of fetal alcohol exposure in a phylogenetic, evolutionary context known as character optimization or sometimes, character mapping. Our results indicate that of the 112 reported FASD symptoms, many neurological and craniofacial manifestations appear to characterize Mammalia, though significant autapomorphic responses may characterize humans. Still other symptoms seem to characterize Vertebrata and Animalia. Non‐neurological and craniofacial characters are less clearly congruent with phylogeny, suggesting that these responses to fetal alcohol exposure may be convergent in nature, lacking underlying anatomical bases. While this research suggests limitations on the utility of some taxa as model organisms, it also provides opportunity to define homologous responses to disease processes, as well as provides an evolutionary rationale for maximizing ethical decisions in the use and development of animal models in biomedical research.