The venom and telopodal defence systems of the centipede Lithobius forficatus are functionally convergent serial homologues.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Evolution of novelty is a central theme in evolutionary biology, yet studying the origins of traits with an apparently discontinuous origin remains a major challenge. Venom systems are a well-suited model for the study of this phenomenon because they capture several aspects of novelty across multiple levels of biological complexity. However, while there is some knowledge on the evolution of individual toxins, not much is known about the evolution of venom systems as a whole. One way of shedding light on the evolution of new traits is to investigate less specialised serial homologues, i.e. repeated traits in an organism that share a developmental origin. This approach can be particularly informative in animals with repetitive body segments, such as centipedes.

Results<

SUBMITTER: Schendel V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11170834 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature