Divergence of craniofacial developmental trajectories among avian embryos

• DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.24262
• Publication Date: 2015-02-19T19:57:11Z
• Authors: Francis J. Smith; Christopher J. Pe...; Nathan M. Young; Diane Hu; Richard A. Schneider; Ralph S. Marcucio; Benedikt Hallgrim...
• Keywords: Evolvability; Heterochrony; Divergence (linguistics); Morphometrics; Evolutionary developmental biology

Morphological divergence among related species involves changes to developmental processes. When such variation arises in development has garnered considerable theoretical interest relating the broader issue of how may constrain evolutionary change. The hourglass model holds that while early events be highly evolvable, there is a phylotypic stage when key are conserved. Thus, should tend arise after reduced evolvability and, consequently, species. We test this prediction by comparing trajectories three avian varying relatedness (chick, quail, and duck) locate their putative point divergence. Three-dimensional geometric morphometrics trajectory analyses were used measure significance facial shape observed these