Modularity, homology, heterochrony: Gavin de Beer's legacy to the mammalian skull
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Published:2023-05-15
Issue:1880
Volume:378
Page:
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ISSN:0962-8436
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Container-title:Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
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language:en
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Short-container-title:Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B
Author:
Hall Brian K.1,
Hanken James2ORCID
Affiliation:
1. Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3H 4J1
2. Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
Abstract
Modularity (segmentation), homology and heterochrony were essential concepts embraced by Gavin de Beer in his studies of the development and evolution of the vertebrate skull. While his pioneering contributions have stood the test of time, our understanding of the biological processes that underlie each concept has evolved. We assess de Beer's initial training as an experimental embryologist; his switch to comparative and descriptive studies of skulls, jaws and middle ear ossicles; and his later research on the mammalian skull, including his approach to head segmentation. The role of cells of neural crest and mesodermal origin in skull development, and developmental, palaeontological and molecular evidence for the origin of middle ear ossicles in the evolutionary transition from reptiles to mammals are used to illustrate our current understanding of modularity, homology and heterochrony.
This article is part of the theme issue ‘The mammalian skull: development, structure and function’.
Funder
National Science Foundation
Canadian Network for Research and Innovation in Machining Technology, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
National Research Council Canada
Publisher
The Royal Society
Subject
General Agricultural and Biological Sciences,General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
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1. The mammalian skull: development, structure and function;Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences;2023-05-15