Journal article
Evolution and development of the vertebrate ear
Brain research bulletin, Vol.55(6), pp.711-721
08/2001
DOI: 10.1016/S0361-9230(01)00558-5
PMID: 11595355
Abstract
This review outlines major aspects of development and evolution of the ear, specifically addressing issues of cell fate commitment and the emerging molecular governance of these decisions. Available data support the notion of homology of subsets of mechanosensors across phyla (proprioreceptive mechanosensory neurons in insects, hair cells in vertebrates). It is argued that this conservation is primarily related to the specific transducing environment needed to achieve mechanosensation. Achieving this requires highly conserved transcription factors that regulate the expression of the relevant structural genes for mechanosensory transduction. While conserved at the level of some cell fate assignment genes (atonal and its mammalian homologue), the ear has also radically reorganized its development by implementing genes used for cell fate assignment in other parts of the developing nervous systems (e.g., neurogenin 1) and by evolving novel sets of genes specifically associated with the novel formation of sensory neurons that contact hair cells (neurotrophins and their receptors). Numerous genes have been identified that regulate morphogenesis, but there is only one common feature that emerges at the moment: the ear appears to have co-opted genes from a large variety of other parts of the developing body (forebrain, limbs, kidneys) and establishes, in combination with existing transcription factors, an environment in which those genes govern novel, ear-related morphogenetic aspects. The ear thus represents a unique mix of highly conserved developmental elements combined with co-opted and newly evolved developmental elements.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Evolution and development of the vertebrate ear
- Creators
- B Fritzsch - Department of Biomedical Sciences, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA. fritzsch@creighton.eduK W Beisel
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Brain research bulletin, Vol.55(6), pp.711-721
- DOI
- 10.1016/S0361-9230(01)00558-5
- PMID
- 11595355
- NLM abbreviation
- Brain Res Bull
- ISSN
- 0361-9230
- eISSN
- 1873-2747
- Publisher
- United States
- Grant note
- P01 DC00215 / NIDCD NIH HHS R01 DC04279 / NIDCD NIH HHS
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 08/2001
- Academic Unit
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Biology; Craniofacial Anomalies Research Center
- Record Identifier
- 9984070669602771
Metrics
13 Record Views