Deep time perspective on turtle neck evolution: chasing the Hox code by vertebral morphology.

ABSTRACT: The unparalleled ability of turtle neck retraction is possible in three different modes, which characterize stem turtles, living side-necked (Pleurodira), and hidden-necked (Cryptodira) turtles, respectively. Despite the conservatism in vertebral count among turtles, there is significant functional and morphological regionalization in the cervical vertebral column. Since Hox genes play a fundamental role in determining the differentiation in vertebra morphology and based on our reconstruction of evolutionary genetics in deep time, we hypothesize genetic differences among the turtle groups and between turtles and other land vertebrates. We correlated anterior Hox gene expression and the quantifiable shape of the vertebrae to investigate the morphological modularity in the neck across living

SUBMITTER: Bohmer C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5566328 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature