Navigation Links
How the whale got its teeth
Date:2/19/2013

teins, BMP4 (Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4) and FGF8 (Fibroblast Growth Factor 8). BMP4 expression leads to teeth developing into simple prongs, and this occurs near the tip of the jaws, where the incisors form. Prior to teeth forming in the embryo, FGF8 expression in the back of the jaw leads to development of molar teeth with their complex hills and valleys in mice and other mammals.

Armfield and her co-workers studied FGF8 and BMP4 in pig embryos, relatives of whales and dolphins. Pigs have the four typical types of teeth, and, sure enough, the two proteins are distributed in the same way as they are in other mammals, showing that whales' ancestors likely had this distribution of gene expression too. Next, the authors moved on to examine dolphin embryos. Here, the pattern was different: FGF8 is present in the back part of the jaw, but BMP4 is present along the entire length of the jaw, including where FGF8 is found. The authors hypothesize that the overlapping presence of BMP4 in these new areas causes the teeth all along the jaw to be simple in shape, like incisors, and to be similar to each other. Interestingly, other researchers had shown that in mouse embryos in which BMP4 is experimentally introduced in the back of the jaw, the back teeth also take on this simplified appearance.

"It is exciting to identify a molecular change that occurred in nature and that so dramatically influenced the way in which a mammal can thrive in the ocean and to then trace the evolution of that change in the fossil record," says Armfield. "The simple shift in the location of proteins that influence tooth shape found in whales may help us to better understand how mammals evolved their complex tooth in the first place."

Says co-author Thewissen: "This shows that major changes to the design of an animal can result from small changes in early development, by simply shifting the region where an already existing protein occurs. It's a beautiful, detailed exampl
'/>"/>

Contact: Brooke Armfield
barmfield26@gmail.com
352-273-8101
PeerJ
Source:Eurekalert  

0

GOOD

Page: 1 2 3

Related biology news :

1. Genetic survey of endangered Antarctic blue whales shows surprising diversity
2. Giant squids giant eyes: The better to see hungry whales with
3. Ancient whale species sheds new light on its modern relatives
4. How to make high-end perfumes without whale barf
5. New iPad, iPhone app helps mariners avoid endangered right whales
6. Study amplifies understanding of hearing in baleen whales
7. Whale population size, dynamics determined based on ancient DNA
8. A whale of a discovery: New sensory organ found in rorqual whales
9. Scientists discover a new sensory organ in the chin of baleen whales
10. Killer whale at risk due to inadequate prey population
11. First paternity study of southern right whales finds local fathers most successful
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
Related Image:
How the whale got its teeth
(Date:5/21/2013)... charted the path of insulin action in cells in ... blueprint for understanding what goes wrong in diabetes. ... Professor David James from Sydney,s Garvan Institute of Medical ... of the prestigious journal Cell Metabolism . , ... very important role in the body because it helps ...
(Date:5/20/2013)... N.Y. Little is known about the effect of ... study from Cornell University finds that increasing the amount ... reduces the probability of obesity. , The study represents ... of PE on youth obesity, and is forthcoming in ... early, online version of the study can be viewed ...
(Date:5/20/2013)... A new study conducted at the University of Bristol ... Evolutionary Biology sheds light on how the brain ... Lautenschlager from Bristol,s School of Earth Sciences, together with ... picked the brains of 150 million year old dinosaurs. ... Jurassic dinosaur Dysalotosaurus lettowvorbecki : a very young ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):Insight into the dazzling impact of insulin in cells 2Insight into the dazzling impact of insulin in cells 3Gym class reduces probability of obesity, study finds for first time 2Fossil brain teaser 2
... of researchers from the University of Valladolid (Spain) has analysed ... free iron than pale and non-alcoholic beers. Iron is essential ... compounds that give these beverages stability and flavour. According ... (UVa) on 40 types of beers from all 5 continents, ...
... bleekeri ) employ different reproductive strategies depending on their body ... BMC Evolutionary Biology shows that the divergent mating behavior ... sperm sizes. Large male squid compete for females by ... has chosen her partner they mate in an above and ...
... August 10, 2011 - Between conception and birth, the ... and coiling within the tiny abdomen. Within a given ... same formationhowever, until now, it has not been clear ... and biophysical manipulations, theory, and computation, researchers at Harvard ...
Cached Biology News:Dark beer has more iron than pale beer 2Gut coils with help from its elastic neighbor 2Gut coils with help from its elastic neighbor 3
(Date:5/21/2013)... , May 21, 2013  On May ... FCN ), the global business advisory firm dedicated ... value (the "Company"), announced that it has combined ... were formerly included within the Corporate Finance/Restructuring segment ... segment to form a single integrated practice whose ...
(Date:5/21/2013)... Through science fairs, workshops, kits for building optical ... organizations will continue their work to increase awareness about ... daily life with the aid of SPIE Education ... countries, are the first of two groups of recipients ... international society for optics and photonics , in 2013. ...
(Date:5/21/2013)... The congress of the ERA-EDTA ... the biggest congress in Europe ... are in Istanbul to share ... pioneering studies have been presented: / (1) ... VIA HEMODIALYSATE REDUCES ESA USE" By SFP-iron ...
(Date:5/21/2013)... Austin, TX (PRWEB) May 21, 2013 ... and outdoor security solutions, today announced that Genzyme, a ... more units of Door Detective® CL for a multi-use ... already installed in four other Genzyme buildings, this latest ... had with the tailgate detection device improving ...
Breaking Biology Technology:FTI Consulting Releases Realigned Segment Information Reflecting Newly Combined Health Solutions Practice 2Learning About Light: Education Outreach Projects Funded in 10 Countries Through First Round of SPIE Grants 2Learning About Light: Education Outreach Projects Funded in 10 Countries Through First Round of SPIE Grants 3ERA-EDTA CONGRESS 2013: Late Breaking Clinical Trials 2ERA-EDTA CONGRESS 2013: Late Breaking Clinical Trials 3Door Security at Genzyme, a Sanofi Company, Enhanced with Door Detective from Smarter Security 2Door Security at Genzyme, a Sanofi Company, Enhanced with Door Detective from Smarter Security 3
... Trials -- TIRAT CARMEL, Israel, August 31, 2010 ... ... var ... by longUrl, so we need to grab the first one. for (var r in data.results) { first_result ...
... & Nutrition is honored to announce the company has ... fastest-growing, private companies in America.  With this accomplishment, Uckele ... on the list multiple times, many of which have ... most comprehensive look at the most important segment of ...
... ThermoGenesis Corp. (Nasdaq: KOOLD ), a leading supplier ... stem cells, said today it has sold two BioArchive® Systems ... operates cord blood banks in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand and ... a storage capacity for cryopreserving and archiving cord blood stem ...
Cached Biology Technology:InSightec Treats First Prostate Cancer Patients in Clinical Trials 2InSightec Treats First Prostate Cancer Patients in Clinical Trials 3InSightec Treats First Prostate Cancer Patients in Clinical Trials 4InSightec Treats First Prostate Cancer Patients in Clinical Trials 5InSightec Treats First Prostate Cancer Patients in Clinical Trials 6InSightec Treats First Prostate Cancer Patients in Clinical Trials 7InSightec Treats First Prostate Cancer Patients in Clinical Trials 8Uckele Health & Nutrition Ranks on the 2010 Inc. 5000 List 2ThermoGenesis Announces Sale of BioArchive Systems In Asia as Company Increases Presence In Key Market 2ThermoGenesis Announces Sale of BioArchive Systems In Asia as Company Increases Presence In Key Market 3
... Service, We deliversoluble protein or No ... yields the best soluble protein results , ... clone submitted , Powerful results on your ... Solubility Optimization Service (SOS) uses proprietary tools ...
... The Rapid-Screen cDNA Library Panels were designed ... three sets of PCRs to identify the ... is performed in a 96-well "Master Plate," ... 5,000 clones. Having identified the positive well(s) ...
... The ProteinChip beta-amyloid Multipeptide Kit, designed ... makes detecting a variety of amyloid ... ever before. - Clinical neuroscience proteomics ... drug treatment - Correlate beta-amyloid peptide ...
Formula variant: With the macro- and micronutrients as described by Lloyd and McCown (1981). Preparation Quantity Equivalency: Formulated to contain 2.3 grams of powder per liter of medium. Physical ...
Biology Products: