Evolution of networks for body plan patterning; interplay of modularity, robustness and evolvability.

ABSTRACT: A major goal of evolutionary developmental biology (evo-devo) is to understand how multicellular body plans of increasing complexity have evolved, and how the corresponding developmental programs are genetically encoded. It has been repeatedly argued that key to the evolution of increased body plan complexity is the modularity of the underlying developmental gene regulatory networks (GRNs). This modularity is considered essential for network robustness and evolvability. In our opinion, these ideas, appealing as they may sound, have not been sufficiently tested. Here we use computer simulations to study the evolution of GRNs' underlying body plan patterning. We select for body plan segmentation and differentiation, as these are considered to be major innovations in metazoan evolution. To al

SUBMITTER: Ten Tusscher KH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3188509 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature