Nick Heinle all rights reserved. I am interested in exploring the genetic basis of morphological diversity. To do this, I ask how developmental regulatory networks known to pattern a particular aspect of morphology in one organism are modified in other related organisms. At the moment, we have made the most progress studying the evolution of arthropod body plans, but have begun to extend our analyses to molluscs and other phyla.
Arthropods show a large degree of variation in segmental and limb patterning.
Segments, or groups of segments, have repeatedly become specialized for feeding, walking or swimming. Many of the key genes and genetic pathways that regulate segmentation and limb formation have been worked out through molecular genetic analyses in Drosophila . For example, these genes include the HOX genes or the early segmentation genes like hunchback , wingless , and engrailed . I am examining whether these genes and genetic pathways are conserved in a diverse sampling of arthropods, and testing whether morphological evolution involves regulatory changes in otherwise conserved gene networks. I can ask what role developmental regulatory genes play in the evolution of morphological diversity and whether there are properties of developmental systems that constrain or promote phylogenetic change.