Evolutionary crossroads in developmental biology: amphioxus

The phylogenetic position of amphioxus, together with its relatively simple and evolutionarily conserved morphology and genome structure, has led to its use as a model for studies of vertebrate evolution. In particular, the recent development of technical approaches, as well as access to the complet...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inDevelopment (Cambridge) Vol. 138; no. 22; pp. 4819 - 4830
Main Authors Bertrand, Stephanie, Escriva, Hector
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England 15.11.2011
Subjects
Animals
Biological Evolution
Branchiostoma lanceolatum
Chordata - genetics
Chordata - growth & development
Developmental Biology
Life Cycle Stages - genetics
Life Cycle Stages - physiology
Marine
Models, Animal
Models, Biological
Phylogeny
Vertebrates - genetics
Vertebrates - growth & development
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ISSN0950-1991
1477-9129
1477-9129
DOI10.1242/dev.066720

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Summary:The phylogenetic position of amphioxus, together with its relatively simple and evolutionarily conserved morphology and genome structure, has led to its use as a model for studies of vertebrate evolution. In particular, the recent development of technical approaches, as well as access to the complete amphioxus genome sequence, has provided the community with tools with which to study the invertebrate-chordate to vertebrate transition. Here, we present this animal model, discussing its life cycle, the model species studied and the experimental techniques that it is amenable to. We also summarize the major findings made using amphioxus that have informed us about the evolution of vertebrate traits.
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ISSN:0950-1991
1477-9129
1477-9129
DOI:10.1242/dev.066720