Cell and Developmental Biology Commons^™

Molecular Homology & The Ancient Genetic Toolkit: How Evolutionary Development Could Shape Your Next Doctor's Appointment, Elizabeth G. Plender

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

Homology, i.e. the biological pattern of “sameness,” is a pervasive facet of evolution at both the organismic and molecular levels of organization. While traditionally interpreted at the anatomical scale, shared molecular phenotypes across vastly divergent species hint at the presence of a deeply conserved, ancient genetic “toolkit” characteristic of the animal kingdom. Through careful examination of the nuanced homologues implicated in comparative embryology, evolutionary developmental biologists provide a holistic approach to understanding how homologous patterns of gene regulation translate to anatomical similarities among animal species. My summer research project in the Division of Developmental Biology at Cincinnati Children’s hospital aimed …