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Tardigrades
in
Edinburgh |
We have initiated a new program
of research on a captive Tardigrade.
Tardigrades are small animals (less than 1 mm) that show
affinities with both arthropods and nematodes. Molecular phylogenetic
evidence has suggested that all the moulting animals (arthropods,
tardigrades, nematodes and a number of other "minor" phyla) are more
closely related to each other than to any other metazoans. This
superphylum has been named "Ecdysozoa".Surprisingly little is currently known about the tardigrades.
There is a long history of exquisite detailed morphological study, an
abiding interest in some of the more exciting facets of their biology
(such as cryptobiosis), and ecological research. We are going to
carry out linked
genomics
basic biology
developmental biology
molecular biology
projects on the tardigrade we have in culture to bring this
neglected phylum up into the first rank of studied animals.We have carried out several preliminary studies, and have been
awarded a 3-year grant by the BBSRC Comparative Development and
Evolution initiative to continue our studies.
The text
of the application, which describes the
basics of our approach is posted here.
Monographic publications on Tardigrades are few
and far between: Ernest Marcus published 3 volumes in the
1920's.
A copy of one of the colour plates from his 1929 work is available
here
If you are interested please do not hesitiate to contact me ...mark.blaxter@ed.ac.uk
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