Cite as: Cold Spring Harb. Protoc.; 2008; doi:10.1101/pdb.emo106

This Protocol
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Update/discuss this protocolDiscussion icon
Right arrow Alert me when this protocol is cited
Right arrow Alert me when comments are published
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar protocols in this database
Right arrow Alert me to new releases of protocols
Right arrow Save to Personal Folders
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Printer-friendly versionPrinter-friendly version
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Pang, K.
Right arrow Articles by Martindale, M. Q.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Pang, K.
Right arrow Articles by Martindale, M. Q.
Related Collections
Right arrow Laboratory Organisms, general
Right arrow Developmental Biology
Right arrow Emerging Model Organisms
Right arrow Evolution
Right arrow Evolutionary Development (Evo-Devo)
Right arrowRelated Protocols
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us   Add to Digg   Add to Reddit   Add to Technorati   Add to Twitter  
What's this?
BSN globe

emoEmerging Model Organisms

Comb Jellies (Ctenophora): A Model for Basal Metazoan Evolution and Development

Kevin Pang and Mark Q. Martindale1

Kewalo Marine Laboratory, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA

1 Corresponding author (mqmartin{at}hawaii.edu)


INTRODUCTION

Ctenophores, or comb jellies, are a group of marine organisms whose unique biological features and phylogenetic placement make them a key taxon for understanding animal evolution. These gelatinous creatures are clearly distinct from cnidarian medusae (i.e., jellyfish). Key features present in the ctenophore body plan include biradial symmetry, an oral-aboral axis delimited by a mouth and an apical sensory organ, two tentacles, eight comb rows composed of interconnected cilia, and thick mesoglea. Other morphological features include definitive muscle cells, a nerve net, basal lamina, a sperm acrosome, and light-producing photocytes. Aspects of their development made them attractive to experimental embryologists as early as the 19th century. Recently, because of their role as an invasive species, studies on their role in ecology and fisheries-related fields have increased. Although the phylogenetic placement of ctenophores with respect to other animals has proven difficult, it is clear that, along with poriferans, placozoans, and cnidarians, ctenophores are one of the earliest diverging extant animal groups. It is important to determine if some of the complex features of ctenophores are examples of convergence or if they were lost in other animal branches. Because ctenophores are amenable to modern technical approaches, they could prove to be a highly useful emerging model.


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to Technorati Technorati   Add to Twitter Twitter    What's this?

Related Protocols

Mnemiopsis leidyi Spawning and Embryo Collection
Kevin Pang and Mark Q. Martindale
CSH Protocols 2008: 5085. [Abstract] [Full Text]

Ctenophore Whole-Mount Antibody Staining
Kevin Pang and Mark Q. Martindale
CSH Protocols 2008: 5086. [Abstract] [Full Text]

Ctenophore Whole-Mount In Situ Hybridization
Kevin Pang and Mark Q. Martindale
CSH Protocols 2008: 5087. [Abstract] [Full Text]

Ctenophore Tissue Preparation and Extraction of DNA
Kevin Pang and Mark Q. Martindale
CSH Protocols 2008: 5088. [Abstract] [Full Text]

Ctenophore Tissue Preparation and Extraction of RNA
Kevin Pang and Mark Q. Martindale
CSH Protocols 2008: 5089. [Abstract] [Full Text]



This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 CSH ProtocolsHome page
K. Pang and M. Q. Martindale
Mnemiopsis leidyi Spawning and Embryo Collection
CSH Protocols, November 1, 2008; 2008(12): pdb.prot5085 - pdb.prot5085.
[Abstract] [Full Text]

Home page
 CSH ProtocolsHome page
K. Pang and M. Q. Martindale
Ctenophore Whole-Mount Antibody Staining
CSH Protocols, November 1, 2008; 2008(12): pdb.prot5086 - pdb.prot5086.
[Abstract] [Full Text]

Home page
 CSH ProtocolsHome page
K. Pang and M. Q. Martindale
Ctenophore Whole-Mount In Situ Hybridization
CSH Protocols, November 1, 2008; 2008(12): pdb.prot5087 - pdb.prot5087.
[Abstract] [Full Text]

Home page
 CSH ProtocolsHome page
K. Pang and M. Q. Martindale
Ctenophore Tissue Preparation and Extraction of DNA
CSH Protocols, November 1, 2008; 2008(12): pdb.prot5088 - pdb.prot5088.
[Abstract] [Full Text]

Home page
 CSH ProtocolsHome page
K. Pang and M. Q. Martindale
Ctenophore Tissue Preparation and Extraction of RNA
CSH Protocols, November 1, 2008; 2008(12): pdb.prot5089 - pdb.prot5089.
[Abstract] [Full Text]