Genetic Bases of Fin Diversity
One of the most intriguing questions in biology is the evolutionary mechanisms of morphological novelties and diversity in a variety of environments. Paired fins show extreme disparity in shape and size, as exemplified by the fins of extinct and extant cartilaginous and bony fish. Among them, unique fins of skates and rays are striking examples of the novelties. In skates, the pectoral fin develops cranially and fuses with the flattened head, resulting in a body adapted to the benthic life. By using functional genomics, we found that the posterior portion of the skate pectoral fin has a gene expression profile that is composed of a canonical genetic module as noted in tetrapods. In contrast, the anterior portion of the fin extends via a non canonical genetic module. For this research, we work at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Massachusetts (2014 and 2018 MBL research awardee), where we manipulate skate eggs, including injections, cell labeling, and implantations.
Currently, collaboration with Skate Genome Consortium is in progress to understand the genetic basis of skate unique body development.
Publications
Nakamura T et al.
Molecular mechanisms underlying the exceptional adaptations of batoid fins.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2015Turner N et al.
The evolutionary origins and diversity of the neuromuscular system of paired appendages in batoids
Proc.Biol.Sci. 2019Marlétaz F†, Calle-Mustienes E†, Acemel RD†, Nakamura T†, Paliou C†,……., Navon D, Andrescavage A,…………, Tena JJ, Lupiáñez DG, Rokhsar DS. and Gómez-Skarmeta JL. (†;equal contributions) The little skate genome and the evolutionary emergence of wing-like fin appendages
bioRxiv. 2022
Reported on Media
Unique Wing-Like Fins of Skates and Rays Evolved From Repurposed Genes, Researcher Say Nature World News
How Skate and Rays got their wings
Science Life