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The evolution of craniofacial features in the blind Mexican cavefish, Astyanax mexicanus

Powers, Amanda K
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2272-1338
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1522332307473831

Abstract Details

2018, PhD, University of Cincinnati, Arts and Sciences: Biological Sciences.
The vertebrate skull has undergone dramatic morphological changes across evolutionary history. While the cell lineages and genes involved in cranial development are well conserved across vertebrates, the precise mechanisms involved in facial patterning giving rise to diverse features remain largely uncharacterized. Further, the cranium is made up of multifarious tissues making up the nervous, vascular, visual, muscular and skeletal systems. The putative interactions between these tissues during development and their involvement in facial patterning are presently unclear. The complex nature of the cranium poses a challenge in modeling cranial development. Natural animal systems, particularly those evolving under extreme environmental pressures, provide the opportunity to advance our understanding of how the changes to the skull arise in nature. As a consequence of life in complete darkness, the blind Mexican cavefish has evolved extensive morphological changes within the cranium, such as complete loss of the eyes. Cavefish also harbor numerous bony alterations and asymmetries within the craniofacial complex. In contrast, cavefish have dramatically expanded their sensory system, increasing the number of both tastebuds and mechanoreceptor neuromast organs within the cranium. In this dissertation, I first determine when during life history, cranial malformations and asymmetries arise in cavefish. Next, I characterize the developmental mechanisms involved in abnormal cranial bone formation in cavefish. Finally, I describe interactions between bone development and sensory organs within the cranium. The dichotomy between sensory expansion and abnormal bone development establishes cavefish as an excellent and integrative model system for understanding the biological processes involved in craniofacial patterning. The results presented here inform on mechanisms of craniofacial evolution across vertebrates, as well as provide insight into etiologies of cranial malformations with clinical relevance to humans.
Joshua Gross, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
Daniel Buchholz, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Elke Buschbeck, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Donna Carlson Jones, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Stephanie Rollmann, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
189 p.
Biology
Cavefish; Morphology; Dermal bone; Neuromast; Geometric Morphometics

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Powers, A. K. (2018). The evolution of craniofacial features in the blind Mexican cavefish, Astyanax mexicanus [Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1522332307473831

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Powers, Amanda. The evolution of craniofacial features in the blind Mexican cavefish, Astyanax mexicanus. 2018. University of Cincinnati, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1522332307473831.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Powers, Amanda. "The evolution of craniofacial features in the blind Mexican cavefish, Astyanax mexicanus." Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati, 2018. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1522332307473831

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ucin1522332307473831
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This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.