'De-evolution' of Drosophila toward a more generic mode of axis patterning

Int J Dev Biol. 2003;47(7-8):497-503.

Abstract

The genetics of the establishment of the primary axes of the early embryo have been worked out in great detail Drosophila. However, evidence has accumulated that Drosophila employs a mode of patterning that is not shared with most insects. In particular, the use of the morphogenic gradient of the Bicoid homeoprotein appears to be a novel addition to the fly developmental toolkit. To better understand the ancestral mode of patterning that is probably more widely used by insects, several groups have used Evo-Devo approaches as well as sophisticated genetic manipulations of Drosophila to achieve some form of 'de-evolution' of this derived insect. Genetic manipulations of the beetle Tribolium and the wasp Nasonia have validated most of these results.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Body Patterning*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • Drosophila / embryology
  • Drosophila Proteins / genetics
  • Evolution, Molecular*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Genes, Insect
  • Insect Proteins
  • Models, Biological
  • Mutation
  • Phylogeny
  • RNA Interference
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Tribolium / embryology

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Insect Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • hb protein, Drosophila