Ctenophores: an evolutionary-developmental perspective

Description

Ctenophores are non-bilaterian metazoans of uncertainphylogenetic position, some recent studies placing them assister-group to all other animals whereas others suggest thisplacement is artefactual and ctenophores are more closelyallied with cnidarians and bilaterians, with which they sharenerve cells, muscles and gut. Available information aboutdevelopmental genes and their expression and function inctenophores is reviewed. These data not only unveil someconserved aspects of molecular developmental mechanismswith other basal metazoan lineages, but also can be expectedto enlighten the genomic and molecular bases of the evolutionof ctenophore-specific traits, including their unique embryonicdevelopment, complex anatomy and high cell type diversity.

Abstract

International audience

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