Biology and Evolution of the Mexican Cavefish

Biology and Evolution of the Mexican Cavefish features contributions by leading researchers in a comprehensive, unique work that examines a number of distinct areas of biology-evolution, development, ecology, and behavior-using the Mexican cavefish as a powerful model system to further understanding of basic biological processes such as eye degeneration, hearing, craniofacial development, sleep, and metabolic function. These fish are currently being used to better understand a number of issues related to human health, including age-related blindness, sleep, obesity, mood-related disorders, and aging. The recent sequencing of the cavefish genome broadens the interest of this system to groups working with diverse biological systems, and has helped researchers identify genes that regulate sleep, eye degeneration, and metabolic function. Mexican cavefish are particularly powerful for the study of biological processes because these fish evolved independently in twenty-nine caves in the Sierra de el Abra Region of Northeast Mexico. These fish have dramatic adaptations to the cave environment, and this can be used to identify genes involved in disease-related traits. This scholarly text will be of interest to researchers and students throughout diverse areas of biology and ecology. It includes photographs of animals and behavior in laboratory and natural settings that will also increase interest and accessibility to non-experts. Includes a mixture of images and illustrations such as the geographical distribution of cave pools and the developmental biology of the nervous systemFeatures a companion site with geographical maps and videos of cavefish behavior as additional tools for researching this model animalFills a notable gap in the literature on a topic of broad interest to the scientific communityPresents the recent sequencing of the cavefish genome as a groundbreaking development for researchers working with diverse biological systems INDICE: Introduction Mexican cavefish as a model for the study of evolution, development and behavior Clifford Tabin Ecology and Evolution 1. Cave exploration in the Sierra de el abra region William Elliott 2. Hydrogeology of caves in the Sierra de El Abra region Luis Espinasa 3. Biodiversity and ecology of Sierra de El Abra caves William Elliott 4. Phylogeny and evolutionary history of A. mexicanus Claudia Patricia Ornelas-García Genetics and Genomics 5. Classic genetics and hybridization in A. mexicanus Horst Wilkens 6. Population genetics and QTL mapping approaches Richard Borowsky 7. Genome sequencing and population genomics Suzanne McGaugh 8.Selection through standing variation Nicholas Rohner Morphology and Development 9. Regressive evolution of albinism William Jeffery 10. The molecular evolution of eye loss Yoshi Yamamoto 11. The evolution of the cavefish craniofacial complex Joshua Gross 12. Jaws and teeth: Adaptation to cave living Tamara Franz Odenaal 13. Neural development in A. mexicanus Sylvie Retaux Behavior 14. Sensory regulation of foraging behaviors in A. mexicanus Masato Yoshizawa 15. Feeding Behavior and starvation response Helene Volkoff 16. Evolutionary convergence of sleep loss Alex Keene 17. Circadian Rhythms and light entrainment David Whitmore 18. Social behavior and Aggression Yannick Elipot and Helene Hinaux 19. Flow sensing and rheotaxis Ernesto Maldanato Future Applications Transgenesis and future applications for cavefish research Harold Burgess Concluding remarks Bill Jeffery (University of Maryland)

• ISBN: 978-0-12-802148-4
• Editorial: Academic Press
• Encuadernacion: Cartoné
• Páginas: 416
• Fecha Publicación: 01/10/2015
• Nº Volúmenes: 1
• Idioma: Inglés