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The Cellular And Genetic Mechanisms Underlying Morphological Diversity Of Insects, Nataliya Turchyn Jan 2010

The Cellular And Genetic Mechanisms Underlying Morphological Diversity Of Insects, Nataliya Turchyn

Wayne State University Dissertations

The vast diversity of insect appendages provides an excellent model for examining the cellular and molecular basis of phenotypic changes in nature. One of the hallmarks of evolution of insect appendages is the differential enlargement of hind (T3) legs compared to their fore (T1) and mid (T2) counterparts. While basic information regarding the genetic mechanisms that regulate the size of the T3 legs became available in the past several years, virtually nothing is known about cellular mechanisms involved. To address this issue, we measured the relative mitotic activity (RMA) in Acheta domesticus (house cricket) and Oncopeltus fasciatus (milkweed bug), two …


Unraveling The Molecular Mechanisms Of Insect Diversity, Steven Michael Hrycaj Jan 2010

Unraveling The Molecular Mechanisms Of Insect Diversity, Steven Michael Hrycaj

Wayne State University Dissertations

ABSTRACT

UNRAVELING THE MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF INSECT DIVERSITY

by

STEVEN MICHAEL HRYCAJ

April 2010

Advisor: Dr. Aleksandar Popadic´

Major: Biological Sciences

Degree: Doctor of Philosophy

While it has long been recognized that the arthropods represent the most diverse animal phylum, the molecular bases defining these large-scale differences in body plans and appendages are only now becoming clear. Specifically, the recent merger between the fields of evolutionary and developmental biology ("evo-devo") have provided several examples illustrating that this extraordinary diversification may be due to evolved variation(s) in the developmental networks that control the formation of these structures. In addition, the delineation …