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SUMMARY:Morphogenesis and Molecular Regulation of Colour Patterning in Nat
 ural Populations - Marie Manceau (Collège de France)
DTSTART:20141022T120000Z
DTEND:20141022T130000Z
UID:TALK55511@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Jeremy Solly
DESCRIPTION:The distribution of color across the body (i.e.\, color patter
 n) is a crucial morphological trait involved in survival and reproductive 
 success which varies tremendously both within and between species. Despite
  their ecological importance\, the genetic and developmental mechanisms re
 sponsible for the formation and variation of naturally-occurring color pat
 terns have remained a black box. We showed that in deer mice (genus Peromy
 scus)\, the formation of a simple bicolor pattern typical of most vertebra
 tes relies on the establishment of an embryonic “pre-pattern” (i.e.\, 
 the spatial restriction of pigmentation genes) causing regional difference
 s in pigment cell behavior. Moreover\, we showed that large adaptive chang
 es in the adult color pattern seen in a derived Peromyscus population are 
 provoked by small accumulating changes in the pre-pattern. These findings 
 laid the groundwork for studying (1) the embryonic origin of pre-patterns 
 in the skin\, (2) the molecular control of their formation and (3) the gen
 etic basis of their evolution in other vertebrates groups. To this end\, w
 e propose to use analyses of gene expression and function in natural popul
 ations of birds displaying a vast array of skin patterns. 
LOCATION:Part II Lecture Theatre\, Department of Zoology
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