A5036281398- Evolution and Paleontology Studies
- Ichthyology and Marine Biology
- Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Chromosomal and Genetic Variations
- Biomedical Text Mining and Ontologies
- Bone and Dental Protein Studies
- Animal Genetics and Reproduction
- scientometrics and bibliometrics research
- Cephalopods and Marine Biology
- Morphological variations and asymmetry
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research
- Collagen: Extraction and Characterization
- Genetic and Clinical Aspects of Sex Determination and Chromosomal Abnormalities
- Silk-based biomaterials and applications
- dental development and anomalies
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Greenhouse Technology and Climate Control
- Fish biology, ecology, and behavior
- Scarabaeidae Beetle Taxonomy and Biogeography
- Marine animal studies overview
- Marine Sponges and Natural Products
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
University of Bristol
2014-2024
University of Manchester
2018-2023
Nanjing University
2023
Natural History Museum
2016
University of Leicester
2012
Polyploidy or whole-genome duplication (WGD) is a major event that drastically reshapes genome architecture and often assumed to be causally associated with organismal innovations radiations. The 2R hypothesis suggests two WGD events (1R 2R) occurred during early vertebrate evolution. However, the timing of relative divergence gnathostomes (jawed vertebrates) cyclostomes (jawless hagfishes lampreys) unresolved whether these underlie phenotypic diversification remains elusive. Here we present...
Abstract Debate over the origin and evolution of vertebrates has occupied biologists palaeontologists alike for centuries. This debate been refined by molecular phylogenetics, which resolved place among their invertebrate chordate relatives, that chordates deuterostome relatives. The is characterized wide‐ranging genomic, embryologic phenotypic evolutionary change. Analyses based on living lineages suggest dramatic shifts in tempo change at gnathostomes, coincident with whole‐genome...
Reconstructing evolutionary histories requires accurate phylogenetic trees. Recent simulation studies suggest that probabilistic analyses of morphological data are more than traditional parsimony techniques. Here, we use empirical to compare Bayesian and phylogenies in terms their congruence with the distribution age ranges component taxa. Analysis 167 independent matrices fossil tetrapods finds trees exhibit significantly lower stratigraphic equivalent As such, taking as an benchmark...
The assembly of the gnathostome bodyplan constitutes a formative episode in vertebrate evolutionary history, an interval which mineralized skeleton and its canonical suite cell tissue types originated. Fossil jawless fishes, assigned to stem-lineage, provide unparalleled insight into origin evolution skeleton, hindered only by uncertainty over phylogenetic position significance key clades. Chief among these are anaspids, whose skeletal composition, rich source information, is poorly...
We resolve debate over the evolution of vertebrate hypermineralized tissues through analyses matrix protein-encoding secretory calcium-binding phosphoprotein (SCPP) genes and phylogenetic inference tissues. Among these genes, AMBN ENAM are found in both sarcopterygians actinopterygians, whereas AMEL SCPP5 only respectively. Actinopterygian AMBN, ENAM, expressed during formation on scales teeth: ganoin, acrodin, collar enamel gar, acrodin enameloid zebrafish. Our indicate emergence an...
ABSTRACT Living vertebrates are divided into those that possess a fully formed and mineralised skeleton (gnathostomes) versus only unmineralised cartilaginous rudiments (cyclostomes). As such, extinct phylogenetic intermediates of these living lineages afford unique insights the evolutionary assembly vertebrate its canonical tissue types. Extinct jawless jawed fishes assigned to gnathostome stem evidence piecemeal skeletal systems, revealing dermal is earliest manifestation homologous...
Abstract Evolutionary inferences require reliable phylogenies. Morphological data have traditionally been analyzed using maximum parsimony, but recent simulation studies suggested that Bayesian analyses yield more accurate trees. This debate is ongoing, in part, because of ambiguity over modes morphological evolution and a lack appropriate models. Here, we investigate phylogenetic methods two novel models—one which characters evolve stochastically along lineages another individuals undergo...
Whole genome duplications (WGDs) are major events that drastically reshape architecture and causally associated with organismal innovations radiations 1 . The 2R Hypothesis suggests two WGD (1R 2R) occurred during early vertebrate evolution 2, 3 However, the veracity timing of event relative to divergence gnathostomes (jawed vertebrates) cyclostomes (jawless hagfishes lampreys) is unresolved 4–6 whether these underlie phenotypic diversification remains elusive 7 Here we present inshore...
Abstract The fossil record of non‐biomineralizing, soft‐bodied taxa is our only direct evidence the early history vertebrates. A robust reconstruction affinities these critical to unlocking vertebrate origins and understanding evolution skeletal tissues, but invariably have unstable poorly supported phylogenetic positions. At cusp between mineralized bony vertebrates entirely enigmatic Lasanius , a purported anaspid from Silurian Scotland. Interpretations its affinity significance are...
The amniotic egg with its complex fetal membranes was a key innovation in vertebrate evolution that enabled the great diversification of reptiles, birds and mammals. It is debated whether these evolved eggs on land as an adaptation to terrestrial environment or control antagonistic fetal-maternal interaction association extended embryo retention (EER). Here we report oviparous choristodere from Lower Cretaceous period northeast China. ossification sequence confirms choristoderes are basal...
Abstract Ancient biomolecule analyses are proving increasingly useful in the study of evolutionary patterns, including extinct organisms. Proteomic sequencing techniques complement genomic approaches, having potential to examine lineages further back time than achievable using ancient DNA, given less stringent preservation requirements. In this study, we demonstrate ability use collagen sequence via proteomics assist species delimitation as a foundation for informing patterns. We uncover...
ABSTRACT The Osteostraci are a morphologically diverse group of jawless fishes considered as sister taxon to jawed vertebrates. Fossil therefore have wide-reaching ramifications for our understanding the origin and evolution gnathostomes. Their utility in this context is currently impeded by rudimentary taxonomy faunas from United Kingdom. Principal among these well-preserved, previously undescribed fauna Early Devonian (Lochkovian) Wayne Herbert Quarry, Herefordshire. Here we provide...
Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii) are the largest and most diverse group of vertebrates, comprising over half all living vertebrate species. Phylogenetic relationships between ray-finned have historically pivoted on study morphology, which has notoriously failed to resolve higher order relationships, such as within percomorphs. More recently, comprehensive genomic analyses provided further resolution actinopterygian phylogeny, including relationships. Such rightfully regarded ‘gold...
Abstract Ancestral state estimation is a formal phylogenetic method for inferring the nature of ancestors and performing tests character evolution. As such, it among most important tools available to evolutionary biologists. However, there are profusion methods available, accuracy which remains unclear. Here I use simulation approach test between parsimony likelihood estimating ancestral states from discrete binary characters. simulate 500 characters using 15 different Markov generating...
Sponges (Porifera) are highly effective ecosystem engineers, playing a critical role in global biogeochemical processes, including the nitrogen, carbon, and silica cycles. Because of that, they have been closely linked to evolution Earth's environments. However, determining evolutionary history sponges has posed challenges. Molecular divergence times pointed Tonian or Cryogenian origin for sponges. This contrasts with oldest unequivocal fossil evidence sponges, consisting isolated siliceous...
Osteostracans are the closest jawless relatives of jawed vertebrates, informing gradual assembly vertebrate mineralised skeleton. Conflicting interpretations their dermal skeletal histology arise from failure to account for topological variation, obscuring significance in elucidating evolution. To resolve this, we characterize cranial and trunk skeleton a single individual Tremataspis mammillata (Osteostraci, Thyestiida) at submicron resolution using synchrotron- computed- tomography. Our...
Abstract The armoured jawless fishes (ostracoderms) are major and widespread components of middle Palaeozoic ecosystems. As successive plesia on the gnathostome lineage, they reveal early sequences vertebrate evolution, including assembly skeleton. This is predicated however, understanding their diversity interrelationships. largest ostracoderm clade, Pteraspidimorphi, often reconstructed as sister taxon to other boney vertebrates yet lack a phylogenetic framework, in particular...
The Phenoscape project has developed ontology-based tools and a knowledge base that enables the integration discovery of phenotypes across species from scientific literature. TraitFest 2023 event aimed to promote innovative applications adopt capabilities supported by data in Knowledgebase its corresponding semantics-enabled tools, algorithms infrastructure. brought together 26 participants, including domain experts biodiversity informatics, taxonomy phylogenetics software developers various...
Abstract Feathers are a key novelty underpinning the evolutionary success of birds, yet origin feathers remains poorly understood. Debates about feather evolution hinge upon whether filamentous integument has evolved once or multiple time independently on lineage leading to modern birds. These contradictory results stem from subjective methodological differences in statistical ancestral state estimates. Here we conduct comprehensive comparison estimation methodologies applied stem-group...
Open Palaeontology is a new diamond open access (DOA) journal for publishing academic research on all aspects of palaeontology. Palaeontology, or OPal, founded the principles rigour, accessibility, transparency, and innovation. As online-only journal, free authors to publish in readers access. facilitates step-wise flexible approach scholarly that intended increase transparency throughout process with our Hypotheticals, Research Protocols, Articles formats. We also encourage submission...
Abstract Whole genome duplications (WGDs) are major events that drastically reshape architecture and causally associated with organismal innovations radiations 1 . The 2R Hypothesis suggests two WGD (1R 2R) occurred during early vertebrate evolution 2,3 However, the veracity timing of event relative to divergence gnathostomes (jawed vertebrates) cyclostomes (jawless hagfishes lampreys) is unresolved 4-6 whether these underlie phenotypic diversification remains elusive 7 Here we present...