Journal Article
Modularity and sense organs in the blind cavefish, Astyanax mexicanus
Franz-Odendaal, T.A. and Hall, B.K.
Record Number:
1913
Year:
2006
Journal:
Evolution and Development
Pages:
94-100
Volume:
8
Abstract:
SUMMARY Mexican tetra (Astyanax mexicanus) exist as
two morphs: a sighted (surface) form and a blind (cavefish)
form. In the cavefish, some modules are lost, such as the eye
and pigment modules, whereas others are expanded, such as
the taste bud and cranial neuromast modules. We suggest
that modularity can be viewed as being nested in a manner
similar to Baupla¨ne so that modules express unique sets
of genes, cells, and processes. In terms of evolution, we
conclude that natural selection can act on any of these
hierarchical levels within modules or on all the sensory
modules as a whole. We discuss interactions within and
between modules with reference to the blind cavefish from
both genetic and developmental perspectives. The cavefish
represents an illuminating example of module interaction,
uncoupling of modules, and module expansion.
Times Cited:
1
Relevent Species: