Deep Homology?

Description

Half title......Page 2 Title page......Page 3 Imprints page......Page 4 Contents......Page 6 Preface......Page 8 Foreword......Page 17 Introduction......Page 23 1 Body Axes......Page 30 The anterior–posterior axis is subdivided by Hox genes......Page 31 otd/Otx may have ruled the front as caudal/Cdx ruled the rear......Page 46 Segmentation is so rare among phyla that it must be convergent......Page 48 The dorsal–ventral axis is established by BMP and Chordin......Page 53 Left–right asymmetry emerges from cytoskeletal chirality......Page 57 A common matrix of transcription factors subdivides the CNS......Page 70 Neurons make excessive connections that are later pruned......Page 78 Coordination between left and right involves commissural axons......Page 83 After an axon crosses the midline it can never go back again......Page 85 Neurites emanating from the same neuron repel one another......Page 89 A command center in the brain controls circadian rhythms......Page 92 Photons are detected by 11-cis-retinal (a vitamin-A derivative)......Page 101 Detection is facilitated by elaborate phospholipid membranes......Page 105 Color vision relies on a subclass of dedicated photoreceptors......Page 116 The paired-homeobox gene Pax6 governs eye development......Page 127 But other facts undermine Pax6's reputation as a master gene......Page 129 The hair cells of the human cochlea develop like fly bristles......Page 136 Macular hair cells display a plane of symmetry like the fly eye......Page 143 Is there a gene complex for human hair like the one for fly bristles?......Page 150 Flies use their antenna as an ear but still rely on conserved genes......Page 154 The acoustic properties of human and fly ears are quite similar......Page 158 Odors and flavors are identified via combinatorial compilation......Page 160 Gustatory neurons are broadly tuned to only a few taste qualia......Page 163 Olfactory neurons use one receptor and project to one glomerulus......Page 164 Successful glomerular wiring requires sensory neuron activity......Page 169 Pheromones are processed separately from other kinds of odors......Page 171 6 Limbs......Page 173 Appendages use a common set of genes to delineate their axes......Page 175 But the case for appendages in urbilaterians is not compelling......Page 181 Odd-skipped transcription factors are critical for joint formation......Page 182 Extra-joint syndromes are oddly correlated with polarity shifts......Page 185 Some vertebrate and arthropod taxa can regenerate their limbs......Page 188 The critical gene for specifying heart identity seems to be tinman......Page 190 But nematodes use tinman for a non-cardiac (pharyngeal) pump......Page 195 VEGF plays a regulatory role in circulatory system development......Page 196 Epilogue......Page 198 References......Page 200 Index......Page 424