Meeting Abstract

P2-74   -   The role of goosecoid in tardigrade gut patterning Baia, TR*; Smith, FW; University of North Florida; University of North Florida n01461597@unf.edu http://franksmith.domains.unf.edu/

The tardigrade body plan has evolved to be more miniaturized and simplified. We are interested in the connection between modifications to the tardigrade body plan and modifications to developmental mechanisms. In many animals, goosecoid plays a developmental role in patterning the foregut. It is unclear what role goosecoid plays in tardigrade development. We aimed to address this question by investigating where this gene is expressed as well as the function of this gene during tardigrade development. We identified a single ortholog of goosecoid in tardigrades by phylogenetic analysis. This gene encoded a highly conserved homeodomain. We present in-situ hybridization results for the tardigrade species Hypsibius exemplaris. The expression pattern of this gene during H. exemplaris development is consistent with a conserved role in foregut patterning. In the next phase of our research, we plan to use RNA interference in H. exemplaris to more directly test the function of goosecoid in this species.