Differential recruitment of limb patterning genes during development and diversification of beetle horns.

ABSTRACT: The origins of novel complex phenotypes represent one of the most fundamental, yet largely unresolved, issues in evolutionary biology. Here we explore the developmental genetic regulation of beetle horns, a class of traits that lacks obvious homology to traits in other insects. Furthermore, beetle horns are remarkably diverse in their expression, including sexual dimorphisms, male dimorphisms, and interspecific differences in location of horn expression. At the same time, beetle horns share aspects of their development with that of more traditional appendages. We used larval RNA interference-mediated gene function analysis of 3 cardinal insect appendage patterning genes, dachshund, homothorax, and Distal-less, to investigate their role in development and diversification of beetle horns wit

SUBMITTER: Moczek AP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2690047 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature