Through joint research with the Institute of Physical and Chemical Research and Tohoku University, Professor Takayuki Suzuki and Professor Atsushi Kuroiwa of the Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University have elucidated the mechanism by which the position of the hind legs of vertebrates was diversified during evolution.

 At the center of the body of vertebrates, including us humans, is the spine.The spine has a structure in which the cervical spine, thoracic spine, lumbar spine, sacral spine, and tail spine are lined up in a row.Looking at the skeletons of various animals, we can see that in all species, including the already extinct dinosaurs, the hind legs are always connected to the sacral spine via the pelvis.

 This time, the group found that only one gene, GDF11, plays an important role in the formation of the hind legs.That is, the group found that GDF1 always creates the hind legs and pelvis at the location of the sacral spine.In addition, the group said that in the process of making a body in an egg or womb, if GDF11 works early, the body becomes short (close to the head to hind legs) like a turtle or frog, and if GDF11 works late, a snake. It was also clarified that the body became longer.This mechanism is thought to be applicable to all paws-bearing animals on Earth.

 This discovery is expected to be an important clue for elucidating the great evolution of vertebrate morphology and to elucidate the developmental mechanism that determines the position of organs throughout the lower body of animals.

Paper information:[Nature Ecology and Evolution] Anatomical integration of the sacral-hindlimb unit coordinated by GDF11 underlies variation in hindlimb positioning in tetrapods

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