Evolution of post-embryonic development in the Lophotrochozoa: regeneration and asexual reproduction in annelids and nemerteans

ZATTARA, E.E.; NORENBURG, J.L.; BELY, A.E.

Washington DC

Seminario; Department of Zoology Seminar Series. Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History; 2013

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

Regeneration and agametic asexual reproduction by fission has evolved multiple times among Lophotrochozoan lineages. In this talk, I present case studies among freshwater naid worms (Annelida: Clitellata) and marine lineid ribbon worms (Nemertea: Pilidiophora) showing how regeneration ability can be both lost and gained throughout linege evolution, how morphology and development changes to accommodate novel developmental trajectories, and what is the evolutionary and developmental relationship between regeneration and asexual reproduction by fission.