Mammal Evolution Explained Through Molecular and Morphological Data

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Mammals".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 January 2025) | Viewed by 4035

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
National Scientific and Technical Research Council, School of Veterinary Sciences, National Universityy of La Plata, La Plata, Argentina
Interests: comparative morphology; animal development biology; evo-devo

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Guest Editor
Department of General Biology, Biological Sciences Center, State University of Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
Interests: comparative placentation; rodent evolution; mammal anatomy

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Guest Editor
Department of Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-010, Brazil
Interests: comparative anatomy; mammal reproduction and placenta-proteomic

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue of Animals will focus on different morphological and molecular aspects that have varied throughout the course of mammalian evolution. The study of morphology has a long history in biology; its centrality is evident in pre-Darwinian scientists like Lamarck and it was key for Darwin’s theory of evolution. During the second half of the 20th century, molecular genetics was incorporated as one of the pillars of neo-Darwinian synthesis. Furthermore, by the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century, the emergence of the evo–devo perspective promoted a new understanding of the relationship between morphology and molecular biology in evolution. Based on these contributions, we now understand that form variation is the result of the complex interaction between regulatory genes expressed along ontogeny and the environment. In recent decades, the scientific community has agreed that the complexity of evolution cannot be understood without the contribution of molecular and morphological data, both in extinct and living species. This issue will embrace publications, both original studies and reviews, that use morphological or molecular data to answer opened questions about mammalian evolution. Studies combining both morphological and molecular results will be particularly well received. Despite the abundance of the literature on biological evolution, we consider it very important to focus on key aspects of the morphological and molecular bases of the evolution of the different mammalian taxa.

Dr. Claudio Gustavo Ustavo Barbeito
Dr. Phelipe Favaron
Dr. Maria Angelica Miglino
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • evolution
  • evo–devo
  • comparative anatomy
  • molecular biology
  • adaptation

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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22 pages, 5606 KiB  
Article
Molecular Evolution of the Ovgp1 Gene in the Subfamily Murinae
by Miriam Balastegui-Alarcón, Carla Moros-Nicolás, José Ballesta, Mª José Izquierdo-Rico, Pascale Chevret and Manuel Avilés
Animals 2025, 15(1), 55; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15010055 - 29 Dec 2024
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Abstract
OGP, encoded by the Ovgp1 gene, is the major non-serum oviductal protein in most mammals. In the genome of Rattus norvegicus, Ovgp1 has been identified as a pseudogene. However, Mus musculus presents a functional gene. As the rat and the mouse belong [...] Read more.
OGP, encoded by the Ovgp1 gene, is the major non-serum oviductal protein in most mammals. In the genome of Rattus norvegicus, Ovgp1 has been identified as a pseudogene. However, Mus musculus presents a functional gene. As the rat and the mouse belong to the subfamily Murinae, Ovgp1 has probably been lost after their divergence. This study aims to determine when the pseudogenization event occurred and which proteins could replace its function. To attain that, the potential expression of members belonging to the GH18 family is investigated in the rat oviduct by means of molecular and proteomic analyses. Specific Ovgp1 regions are sequenced in different murine rodent species. The analysis reveals the presence of stop codons only in some species of the Rattini tribe, suggesting that the majority of the murine species present a functional gene. Thus, the pseudogenization of Ovgp1 could be dated back to around 10 Mya, after the divergence of the Rattini tribe. The expression of several genes and proteins of the GH18 family, such as Chia, Chit1, Chi3l1, and Chid1, are detected in the rat oviduct. This study opens the door for further research on GH18 family proteins that mimic the OGP functions in species where Ovgp1 is pseudogenized. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mammal Evolution Explained Through Molecular and Morphological Data)
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15 pages, 6221 KiB  
Article
Comparison of Skull Morphometric Characteristics of Simmental and Holstein Cattle Breeds
by Buket Çakar, Faruk Tandir, Barış Can Güzel, Caner Bakıcı, Burak Ünal, Sokol Duro, Tomaz Szara, Constantin Spataru, Mihaela-Claudia Spataru and Ozan Gündemir
Animals 2024, 14(14), 2085; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14142085 - 17 Jul 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1235
Abstract
This study aimed to reveal the morphological characteristics of pure Holstein and Simmental skulls and to obtain reference values for morphometric analysis. Moreover, 54 skulls from 12- to 14-month-old male Holstein (n = 25) and Simmental (n = 29) cattle were [...] Read more.
This study aimed to reveal the morphological characteristics of pure Holstein and Simmental skulls and to obtain reference values for morphometric analysis. Moreover, 54 skulls from 12- to 14-month-old male Holstein (n = 25) and Simmental (n = 29) cattle were collected from Turkey’s Southeastern Anatolia Region between 2023 and 2024. Linear measurements indicated that Holsteins had longer skulls compared to Simmentals. Holsteins exhibited significantly higher values for the greatest length of nasals and the shortest skull length. The facial breadth was wider in Holsteins and statistically distinctive between the breeds. Holsteins had a more oval orbital bony roof, while Simmentals exhibited a wider orbital structure. The orbital index was higher in Holsteins, distinguishing between the two breeds. It was observed that Simmental cattle had a wider occipital region. This difference is likely due to the larger lateral appearance of the Simmental skull, which has more body weight and provides a larger surface area for muscle attachment. These differences not only aid in breed identification but also offer insights into the functional adaptations of each breed. Future research should explore the genetic and environmental factors contributing to these morphological traits, further enriching our knowledge of cattle morphology and its implications for breeding and conservation efforts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mammal Evolution Explained Through Molecular and Morphological Data)
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Review

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13 pages, 3289 KiB  
Review
Evolutionary Patterns of Maternal Recognition of Pregnancy and Implantation in Eutherian Mammals
by Henrique Bartolomeu Braz, Rodrigo da Silva Nunes Barreto, Leandro Norberto da Silva-Júnior, Bianca de Oliveira Horvath-Pereira, Thamires Santos da Silva, Mônica Duarte da Silva, Francisco Acuña and Maria Angelica Miglino
Animals 2024, 14(14), 2077; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14142077 - 16 Jul 2024
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Abstract
The implantation of the embryo into the maternal endometrium is a complex process associated with the evolution of viviparity and placentation in mammals. In this review, we provide an overview of maternal recognition of pregnancy signals and implantation modes in eutherians, focusing on [...] Read more.
The implantation of the embryo into the maternal endometrium is a complex process associated with the evolution of viviparity and placentation in mammals. In this review, we provide an overview of maternal recognition of pregnancy signals and implantation modes in eutherians, focusing on their diverse mechanisms and evolutionary patterns. Different pregnancy recognition signals and implantation modes have evolved in eutherian mammals, reflecting the remarkable diversity of specializations in mammals following the evolution of viviparity. Superficial implantation is the ancestral implantation mode in Eutheria and its major clades. The other modes, secondary, partially, and primary interstitial implantation have each independently evolved multiple times in the evolutionary history of eutherians. Although significant progress has been made in understanding pregnancy recognition signals and implantation modes, there is still much to uncover. Rodents and chiropterans (especially Phyllostomidae) offer valuable opportunities for studying the transitions among implantation modes, but data is still scarce for these diverse orders. Further research should focus on unstudied taxa so we can establish robust patterns of evolutionary changes in pregnancy recognition signaling and implantation modes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mammal Evolution Explained Through Molecular and Morphological Data)
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