5th Argentinean Meeting on Evolutionary Biology (RABE V): Report on the “Evo‐Devo” Extended Symposium

ZATTARA, EDUARDO E.; STRELIN, MARINA M.

JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART B-MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION

WILEY-LISS, DIV JOHN WILEY & SONS INC

Año: 2024

1552-5007

Evolutionary developmental biology (Evo‐Devo) is flourishing in Latin America,particularly Argentina, where researchers are leveraging this integrative field tounlock the secrets of the region´s remarkable biodiversity. A recent symposium heldat the 5th Argentinean Meeting on Evolutionary Biology (RABE V) showcased avibrant Evo‐Devo community and the diversity of its research endeavors. Thesymposium included 3 plenary talks, 3 short talks, and 12 posters, and spanned arange of organisms and approaches. Interestingly, the symposium highlighted aprevalence of “top‐down” Evo‐Devo studies in the region, where researchers firstanalyze existing diversity and then propose potential developmental mechanisms.This approach, driven in part by financial constraints and the region´s historical focuson natural history, presents a unique opportunity to bridge disciplines likecomparative biology, paleontology, and botany. The symposium´s success underscores the vital role of Evo‐Devo in Latin America, not only for advancing ourunderstanding of evolution but also for providing valuable tools to conserve andmanage the region´s irreplaceable biodiversity. As Evo‐Devo continues to grow inLatin America, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange within the regionand beyond will be crucial for realizing the full potential of this transformative field.