Embryonic and post-embryonic HoxA13 expression in the four-toed salamander, Hemidactylium scutatum.

Author

Breanna R. Lee, James Madison UniversityFollow

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

Date of Graduation

Spring 2016

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science (BS)

Department

Department of Biology

Advisor(s)

Carol Hurney

Abstract

The process of somitogenesis occurs during embryological development and results in the definition of persisting axial segments. The four toed salamander, Hemidactylium scutatum, exhibits post-embryonic segmentation while most other vertebrates stop segmentation at the end of embryological development. HoxA13, a transcription factor expressed along the developing anteroposterior axis, plays a role in specifying caudal segmental identity, cell ingression into the pre-somitic mesoderm (PSM), and PSM truncation. HoxA13’s responsibilities in influencing embryological development make it an interesting candidate for involvement in post-embryonic segment addition mechanisms. This study explores the role of HoxA13 in tail segmentation in H. scutatum embryonic, larval, and adult tail tip tissues using RT-PCR techniques. The results of this study indicate that HoxA13 is expressed throughout all life stages. Most importantly, these results suggest that HoxA13 determines segment identity during post-embryonic tail segmentation as it is expressed in the tips of H. scutatum larval and adult tails.

Recommended Citation

Lee, Breanna R., "Embryonic and post-embryonic HoxA13 expression in the four-toed salamander, Hemidactylium scutatum." (2016). Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019. 132.
https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/honors201019/132