The goal of comparative developmental biology is identifying mechanistic differences in
embryonic development between different taxa and how these evolutionary changes have …

Life cycle definitions provide the background for conceptualizing meaningful questions to
address the mechanisms that generate different life cycle patterns. This review provides …

In many animals the head develops early, most of the body axis later. A larva composed
mostly of the developing front end therefore can attain mobility and feeding earlier in …

Background Phoronida is a small group of marine worm-like suspension feeders, which
together with brachiopods and bryozoans form the clade Lophophorata. Although their …

Few, if any, genes have had the same level of impact on the field of evolutionary-
developmental biology (evo-devo) as the Hox genes. These genes are renowned for their …

Background Hox genes encode a family of homeodomain containing transcription factors
that are clustered together on chromosomes of many Bilateria. Some bilaterian lineages …

The evolution of the biphasic life cycle in marine invertebrates has attracted considerable
interest in zoology. We recently provided evidence that retinoic acid (RA) is involved in the …

The decoding of genomes of a larger number of animal species have provided further
insights into the genomic Hox gene organization and with this indicated the evolutionary …

The decoding of genomes of a larger number of animal species have provided further
insights into the genomic Hox gene organization and with this indicated the evolutionary …

Background: Hox genes encode a family of homeodomain containing transcription factors
that are clustered together on chromosomes of many Bilateria. Some bilaterian lineages …