Morphological and molecular-genetic analysis of the development of sensory organs in arthropods (Chelicerata, Myriapoda, Crustacea, Hexapoda) - a first step in understanding the generation of the diversity in the peripheral nervous system during arthropod evolution.
Zusammenfassung der Projektergebnisse
The sensory system of arthropods shows great diversity of mechano- and chemosensory organs. To understand this diversity we need to know how the complex network of neural development has been modified during arthropod evolution. As sensory organs are mainly investigated in insects and higher crustaceans, we need to gather more knowledge on the sensory organs in myriapods and chelicerates. Therefore representatives of all arthropod groups were investigated in terms of the development of specific sensory organs and underlying gene expression pattern. Proneural genes (Achaete-scute family & Atonal family) were chosen for molecular genetics investigations as they specify sensory organ progenitors (SOPs) but also determine which sense organ is formed. For Glomeris marginata, undescribed sensory organs could be detected in the lateral body wall; its function and its underlying gene expression pattern is still unclear but will be further investigated. For Tribolium castaneum the expression pattern of ASH and atonal was compared with the position of different sensory organs; some consistency could be determined, but further confirmation is needed for later embryonic stages. For Daphnia magna the comparison of proneural gene expression pattern and sensory organs is still ongoing but it could be observed that ASH and atonal are partly expressed in overlapping domains which was never seen in insects. Deviating from the original project the embryonic development of Parasteatoda tepidariorum was described and a staging system, including as well developmental time after egg laying, was developed (in cooperation with Dr. Carsten Wolff, HU Berlin). Furthermore, a similar staging system for Daphnia magna will be proposed (in cooperation with Dr. Petra Ungerer, QMUL London and Dr. Carsten Wolff, HU Berlin).
