Eye Dichotomy

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Pages: 4

Currently, there are many gaps in our understanding of the genetics behind human diseases. One novel method to bridge these gaps is to investigate the naturally occurring variation of wild populations which is arguably more similar to the genetic complexity present in human disease than artificially induced mutations in model species. Specifically, our goal is to use naturally occurring eye size variation to achieve a better understanding of eye development and disease. Species adapted to subterranean environments often share phenotypic characteristics such as the reduction or complete absence of eyes, lessened pigmentation and enhanced sensory systems. In order to understand the evolution of these morphological changes, this study will use an invertebrate …show more content…
Our work addresses evolutionary questions that have been historically difficult to dissect and will generate a much-needed animal model for human degenerative eye diseases. Establish a timeframe for embryonic eye development, specifically when the morphological differences in eye development in surface and cave populations of Asellus aquaticus occur.The morphological differences between surface and cave animals are established during embryonic development. Specifically, eye development begins in cave embryos similar to eye development in the surface population and then degenerates ultimately leading to the absence of eyes.The first objective is to determine whether morphological differences between cave and surface animals are established embryonically or post-embryonically. In particular, the focus is on when and how the cave and surface forms diverge in eye development. It is expected that these experiments will generate an understanding of the time frame of both surface and cave embryonic development and a foundational basis for further genetic and developmental