scholarly journals The genetics of phenotypic plasticity in nematode feeding structures

Open Biology ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 160332 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ralf J. Sommer ◽  
Mohannad Dardiry ◽  
Masa Lenuzzi ◽  
Suryesh Namdeo ◽  
Tess Renahan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phenotypic Plasticity ◽  
Recent Work ◽  
Comparative Studies ◽  
Model Systems ◽  
Genetic Studies ◽  
Epigenetic Control ◽  
Morphological Novelty ◽  
Feeding Plasticity ◽  
Phenotypic Novelty ◽  
Developmental Switch

Phenotypic plasticity has been proposed as an ecological and evolutionary concept. Ecologically, it can help study how genes and the environment interact to produce robust phenotypes. Evolutionarily, as a facilitator it might contribute to phenotypic novelty and diversification. However, the discussion of phenotypic plasticity remains contentious in parts due to the absence of model systems and rigorous genetic studies. Here, we summarize recent work on the nematode Pristionchus pacificus, which exhibits a feeding plasticity allowing predatory or bacteriovorous feeding. We show feeding plasticity to be controlled by developmental switch genes that are themselves under epigenetic control. Phylogenetic and comparative studies support phenotypic plasticity and its role as a facilitator of morphological novelty and diversity.

scholarly journals A Developmental Switch Generating Phenotypic Plasticity Is Part of a Conserved Multi-gene Locus

Cell Reports ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (10) ◽  
pp. 2835-2843.e4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bogdan Sieriebriennikov ◽  
Neel Prabh ◽  
Mohannad Dardiry ◽  
Hanh Witte ◽  
Waltraud Röseler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phenotypic Plasticity ◽  
Gene Locus ◽  
Developmental Switch

Morphological novelty emerges from pre-existing phenotypic plasticity

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (8) ◽  
pp. 1289-1297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas A. Levis ◽  
Andrew J. Isdaner ◽  
David W. Pfennig
Keyword(s):  
Phenotypic Plasticity ◽  
Morphological Novelty

scholarly journals The Key Role of Epigenetics in the Persistence of Asexual Lineages

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emilie Castonguay ◽  
Bernard Angers
Keyword(s):  
Phenotypic Plasticity ◽  
Recent Work ◽  
Molecular Mechanism ◽  
Crucial Role ◽  
Environmental Variation ◽  
Epigenetic Modifications ◽  
Epigenetic Variation ◽  
Epigenetic Mechanisms ◽  
Evolutionary Persistence

Asexual organisms, often perceived as evolutionary dead ends, can be long-lived and geographically widespread. We propose that epigenetic mechanisms could play a crucial role in the evolutionary persistence of these lineages. Genetically identical organisms could rely on phenotypic plasticity to face environmental variation. Epigenetic modifications could be the molecular mechanism enabling such phenotypic plasticity; they can be influenced by the environment and act at shorter timescales than mutation. Recent work on the asexual vertebrate Chrosomus eos-neogaeus (Pisces: Cyprinidae) provides broad insights into the contribution of epigenetics in genetically identical individuals. We discuss the extension of these results to other asexual organisms, in particular those resulting from interspecific hybridizations. We finally develop on the evolutionary relevance of epigenetic variation in the context of heritability.

scholarly journals A Genome for the Environment

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dieter Ebert
Keyword(s):  
Phenotypic Plasticity ◽  
Natural History ◽  
Germ Cells ◽  
Model System ◽  
National Institutes Of Health ◽  
Model Systems ◽  
Model Organisms ◽  
Biological Research ◽  
System P ◽  
A Genome

Water fleas of the genus Daphnia are among the oldest model systems in biological research. Today, we know more about their natural history and ecology than of any other taxon. The Daphnia model also has left a notable mark on other fields. élie Metchnikoff used Daphnia to test his 1908 Nobel prize–winning idea that macrophages attack invading parasites as part of cellular immunity. August Weismann's studies of water fleas were instrumental in developing his theory that only germ cells transmit heritable information in animals. Richard Woltereck used Daphnia to develop the notion of phenotypic plasticity—that an organism can change its characteristics in response to the environment—an idea that still guides experiments with many organisms that distinguish genetic from environmental effects. With all of these historical achievements, why did the National Institutes of Health (NIH) only recently add Daphnia to its list of model organisms for biomedical research? Moreover, why has Daphnia, at this point in time, become NIH's 13th model system?

Alveolus formation: what have we learned from genetic studies?

2004 ◽  
Vol 97 (4) ◽  
pp. 1543-1548 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cong Yan ◽  
Hong Du
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Model Systems ◽  
Normal Lung ◽  
Aberrant Expression ◽  
Genetic Studies ◽  
Basic Functions ◽  
Pathogen Clearance ◽  
Alveolar Formation

The respiratory system has two basic functions: air exchange and pathogen clearance. The conducting airway and alveolar parenchyma are the basic structures to fulfill these functions during respiratory cycles. In humans, there are ∼40 cell types in the lung that coordinately work together through various structural and signaling molecules. These molecules are vital for maintaining normal lung functions in response to environmental changes. Aberrant expression of these molecules can jeopardize human health and cause various pulmonary diseases. In this article, we will review some recent progress made in the pulmonary field, using genetic animal model systems to elucidate molecular mechanisms that are important for alveolar formation and lung diseases.

scholarly journals Molecular and genetic studies of the basis of virulence/avirulence in Meloidogyne chitwoodi

2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (SI 2 - 6th Conf EFPP 2002) ◽  
pp. 714-716
Author(s):  
V.C. Blok ◽  
J. Wishart ◽  
D. Mugniéry ◽  
M. Bossis ◽  
P. Castagnone-Sereno ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infected Plant ◽  
Model Systems ◽  
Genetic Studies ◽  
Meloidogyne Chitwoodi ◽  
Subtractive Hybridisation ◽  
Suppressive Subtractive Hybridisation ◽  
Eu Project ◽  
Infected Plant Material ◽  
Dimensional Electrophoresis ◽  
The Eu

Within the EU project DREAM there is a programme of work investigating the molecular basis of virulence and avirulence in Meloidogyne chitwoodi and which involves partners from the Netherlands, France and Scotland. In Wageningen AFLPs are being used to examine genetic diversity between populations of M. chitwoodi. Partners in Wageningen and INRA are using M. javanica and M. incognita as model systems to isolate genes producing secreted proteins that could be implicated in the host pathogen interaction. They will search for homologous sequences in M. chitwoodi. At Rennes two-dimensional electrophoresis (2DE) studies are being conducted. The PCR based suppressive subtractive hybridisation (SSH), has been used at PRI and SCRI to compare avirulent and virulent nematodes and infected plant material (resistant and susceptible) at different times after infection.

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