Evolutionary origin of gastrulation: insights from sponge development.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The evolutionary origin of gastrulation--defined as a morphogenetic event that leads to the establishment of germ layers--remains a vexing question. Central to this debate is the evolutionary relationship between the cell layers of sponges (poriferans) and eumetazoan germ layers. Despite considerable attention, it remains unclear whether sponge cell layers undergo progressive fate determination akin to eumetazoan primary germ layer formation during gastrulation.

Results

Here we show by cell-labelling experiments in the demosponge Amphimedon queenslandica that the cell layers established during embryogenesis have no relationship to the cell layers of the juvenile. In addition, juvenile epithelial cells can transdifferentiate into a range of cell types and move betw

SUBMITTER: Nakanishi N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4021757 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature