Overview
Comparisons of the embryonic development of Drosophila, Nasonia, and Tribolium
Jeremy A. Lynch,
Ezzat El-Sherif,
Susan J. Brown,
Jeremy A. Lynch
Institute for Developmental Biology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
These authors contributed equally.
Search for more papers by this authorEzzat El-Sherif
Program of Genetics, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
These authors contributed equally.
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Susan J. Brown
Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USASearch for more papers by this author
Jeremy A. Lynch,
Ezzat El-Sherif,
Susan J. Brown,
Jeremy A. Lynch
Institute for Developmental Biology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
These authors contributed equally.
Search for more papers by this authorEzzat El-Sherif
Program of Genetics, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
These authors contributed equally.
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Susan J. Brown
Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USASearch for more papers by this authorAbstract
Studying the embryogenesis of diverse insect species is crucial to understanding insect evolution. Here, we review current advances in understanding the development of two emerging model organisms: the wasp Nasonia vitripennis and the beetle Tribolium castaneum in comparison with the well-studied fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. Although Nasonia represents the most basally branching order of holometabolous insects, it employs a derived long germband mode of embryogenesis, more like that of Drosophila, whereas Tribolium undergoes an intermediate germband mode of embryogenesis, which is more similar to the ancestral mechanism. Comparing the embryonic development and genetic regulation of early patterning events in these three insects has given invaluable insights into insect evolution. The similar mode of embryogenesis of Drosophila and Nasonia is reflected in their reliance on maternal morphogenetic gradients. However, they employ different genes as maternal factors, reflecting the evolutionary distance separating them. Tribolium, on the other hand, relies heavily on self-regulatory mechanisms other than maternal cues, reflecting its sequential nature of segmentation and the need for reiterated patterning. WIREs Dev Biol 2012, 1:16–39. doi: 10.1002/wdev.3
This article is categorized under:
- Comparative Development and Evolution > Model Systems
- Comparative Development and Evolution > Body Plan Evolution
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