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The future of evo–devo: model systems and evolutionary theory

Nature Reviews Genetics volume 10, pages 416–422 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

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There has been a recent trend in evolutionary developmental biology (evo–devo) towards using increasing numbers of model species. I argue that, to understand phenotypic change and novelty, researchers who investigate evo–devo in animals should choose a limited number of model organisms in which to develop a sophisticated methodological tool kit for functional investigations. Furthermore, a synthesis of evo–devo with population genetics and evolutionary ecology is needed to meet future challenges.

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Acknowledgements

I would like to thank S. Roth, F. Brown, M. Riebesell and three anonymous reviewers for useful comments on the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department for Evolutionary Biology, Ralf J. Sommer is at the Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Spemannstrasse 37, D-72076 Tübingen, Germany. ralf.sommer@tuebingen.mpg.de,

    Ralf J. Sommer

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DATABASES

Entrez Genome

Caenorhabditis elegans

Drosophila melanogaster

Nasonia vitripennis

Nematostella vectensis

Pristionchus pacificus

Tribolium castaneum

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Max Plank Institute for Developmental Biology

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Sommer, R. The future of evo–devo: model systems and evolutionary theory. Nat Rev Genet 10, 416–422 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrg2567

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