PUBLICATION

Development vs. behavior: a role for neural adaptation in evolution?

Authors
Ghysen, A., Dambly-Chaudière, C.
ID
ZDB-PUB-160709-7
Date
2016
Source
The International journal of developmental biology   60: 77-84 (Review)
Registered Authors
Dambly-Chaudière, Christine, Ghysen, Alain
Keywords
lateral line, plasticity, sensory system, Astyanax, Danio, Thunnus
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Biological Evolution*
  • Fishes
  • Lateral Line System/embryology*
  • Neuronal Plasticity/physiology*
  • Organogenesis/physiology*
PubMed
27389980 Full text @ Int. J. Dev. Biol.
Abstract
We examine the evolution of sensory organ patterning in the lateral line system of fish. Based on recent studies of how this system develops in zebrafish, and on comparative analyses between zebrafish and tuna, we argue that the evolution of lateral line patterns is mostly determined by variations in the underlying developmental processes, independent of any selective pressure. Yet the development of major developmental innovations is so directly linked to their exploitation that it is hard not to think of them as selected for, i.e., adaptive. We propose that adaptation resides mostly in how the nervous system adjusts to new morphologies to make them functional, i.e., that species are neurally adapted to whatever morphology is provided to them by their own developmental program. We show that recent data on behavioral differences between cave forms (blind) and surface forms (eyed) of the mexican fish Astyanax fasciatus support this view, and we propose that this species might provide a unique opportunity to assess the nature of adaptation and of selection in animal evolution.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping