Isaac Salazar-Ciudad, Genomics, bioinformatics and evolution group, Departament de Genètica, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain, will give a talk on Monday February 23 at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (UMB) campus entitled: Pattern formation mechanisms as a key to understand morphological variation patterns and the relationship between genotype and phenotype.Time: 11.15 - 12.00
Place: Håkonshallen, Dept. of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences (IHA), UMB
To understand the direction morphological evolution it is requires understanding which morphological variation is possible in each generation and which of it selected for by ecological factors. The former thing is not currently understood. This talk exemplifies how an understanding of the mechanisms of pattern formation during development can be used to exploring this questions and the question of the relationship between phenotype and genotype. By pattern formation it is meant the change over developmental time of one spatial distribution of cell types into another spatial distribution of cell types. I will present theoretical work identifying the set of gene network topologies able to produce pattern formation and their properties. From that I will discuss work exploring the relative involvement of these in different contexts in development and evolution and about the evolution of development in general. Work in more advanced and realistic models including not only cell signaling but also cell movement and growth will also be introduced; specially in relationship to the study of the genetic and developmental bases of multivariate complex morphological variation in natural populations.
