Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Cell and Developmental Biology Commons™
Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 1 of 1
Full-Text Articles in Cell and Developmental Biology
Cellular And Developmental Insights Into The Early Evolution Of Muscle, Jeffrey J. Colgren
Cellular And Developmental Insights Into The Early Evolution Of Muscle, Jeffrey J. Colgren
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Whereas a great deal has been learned about the molecular underpinnings of morphological evolution in animals, much less is known about the origin of novel cell and tissue types. During the time in which the earliest animal lineages were diversifying, fundamental cell and tissue types, such as muscles, arose. Sponges are one of two animal lineages that lack muscles, yet they undergo coordinated full body contractions. Whereas the signaling processes have been studied, the physical mechanisms of contraction are completely uncharacterized. The main purpose of this work is to understand the primary contractile tissue of the sponge Ephydatia muelleri, …