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The evolution and development of Xenoturbella a newly recognised phylum of deuterostome

Reference	BB/C509866/1
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Maximilian Telford
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Dr Sarah Bourlat
Institution	University College London
Department	Genetics Evolution and Environment
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	224,295
Status	Completed
Type	Research Grant
Start date	01/11/2004
End date	31/10/2007
Duration	36 months

Abstract

We have recently shown that the simple worm Xenoturbella bocki is a member of the deuterostome superphylum of Metazoa along with hemichordates, echinoderms and chordates. The discovery that this morphologically simple worm (previously thought to be a flatworm of a basal bilaterian) is in fact a deuterostomes makes its morphological simplicity especially striking: is this simplicity primitive and indicative of the early morphology of the deuterostomes or is it secondarily simplified? If Xenoturbella is secondarily simple, can we find any evidence of more sophisticated deuterostomian characters in its early embryological development? 1. We seek to test and refine our previous phylogenetic results in order to determine the exact relationship of Xenoturbella to the other deuterostomes by sequencing various phylogentically informative genes. 2. We know very little about Xenoturbella's reproduction or embryology. We wish to identify the germ cells of Xenoturbella and discover when reproduction occurs by using antibodies against the product of the germ-cells specific Vasa gene. We will attempt to follow embryology of Xenoturbella with that typical of other phyla we will look for Deuterostome-typical characters such as a ciliated larva, radial cleavage, gill slits, coelomic cavities and separate mouth and anus with a through gut.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Genes & Developmental Biology (GDB)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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