Histological section through the body of a dolphin embryo (length of section approximately 22 mm), with the head toward the top, and the tail at the bottom. Such sections can be used to study development of individual organs, and analyze how the unusual specializations of dolphins and other cetaceans were acquired in evolution.
Courtesy: Thewissen lab.

 

Core Research Interests in this Field:

Molecular regulation of chondrocyte phenotype
(Walter E. Horton, Jr., Professor, NEOUCOM)

Developmental processes as predictors of evolution
(C. Owen Lovejoy, Professor of Anthropology, Kent State University)

Gene control in the development in epithelial organs and limbs
(J. G. M. Thewissen, Professor, NEOUCOM)

Dental development in Primates and other mammals
(Chris Vinyard, Assistant Professor, NEOUCOM)












Recent Publications:

J. G. M. Thewissen, M. J. Cohn, L. S. Stevens, S. Bajpai, J. Heyning, and W. E. Horton, Jr.  Developmental basis for hind-limb loss in dolphins and the origin of the cetacean bodyplan.  Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 103:8414-8418 (2006). 
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Plikus, M. V., M. Zeichner-David, J.-A.Mayer, J. Reyna, P. Bringas, J. G. M. Thewissen, M. L. Snead, Y. Chai, and C.-M. Chuong.  2005.  Morphoregulation of teeth: modulating the number, size, shape, and differentiation by tuning Bmp activity.  Evolution and  Development 7:440-457. 
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