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SUMMARY:Developmental Constraint Underlying the Evolution of Morphological
  Diversity - Madelaine Bartlett\, Sainsbury Laboratory\, University of Cam
 bridge 
DTSTART:20241021T133000Z
DTEND:20241021T143000Z
UID:TALK220210@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Jia CHEN
DESCRIPTION:Abstract: \n\nPhenotypic variation creates opportunities for n
 atural selection to act. Conserved developmental pathways can shape the ch
 aracter of this phenotypic variation. This shaping is usually viewed as a 
 negative constraint\, where developmental conservation limits phenotypic v
 ariation. However\, developmental conservation can also act to generate or
  potentiate phenotypic variation. Here\, I will discuss an example from th
 e grass family where deep conservation of leaf development genes likely un
 derlies the evolution of a specialized organ elaboration called an awn. Gr
 ass awns have many hypothesized roles in grain development\, grain dispers
 al\, and seedling development\; traits that contributed to the grass famil
 y’s tremendous ecological and agricultural success. Our comparative anal
 yses of anatomy\, morphology\, development\, and genetics reveal the conse
 rved developmental mechanisms underlying the replicated evolution and dive
 rsification of an ecologically important trait. This work reveals how deve
 lopmental constraint can facilitate morphological evolution. \n\nJoin the 
 Zoom with the link: \nhttps://cam-ac-uk.zoom.us/j/87503254733\nMeeting ID:
  875 0325 4733
LOCATION:in person at Genetics\, Part II teaching room and online
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