Phoronids undergo a remarkable metamorphosis, in which some parts of the larval body are consumed by the juvenile and the body plan completely changes.
We used RNA-seq to measure transcription profiles across a developmental time-course in order to explore gene expression changes related to adult body plan development and metamorphosis.
My inherent assumption is that characters present at these stages are fundamental to the body plan, less labile, and thus the changes they undergo throughout evolution represent the major steps in the evolution of the body plan.
Consequently, adaptations necessitated striking changes in their body plan [ 29, 73] and modifications to cellular, physiological, and regulatory processes.
It has been long appreciated that speciation involves changes in body plans and establishes genetic, reproductive, developmental and behavioral incompatibilities between populations.
"Plans change, and individuals' needs may change.
Plans change and people change every single day.
Until recently, developmental genetic data have not been available from sponges, whose adult body plan has not changed since before the Cambrian explosion [11], [12].
If sipunculans did evolve from segmented worms, then their body plan must have changed extensively at or before the start of the Cambrian, followed by a remarkable period of stasis for the past half billion years [ 3].
In March, British Cycling chairman Jonathan Browning apologised for "failings", as the governing body announced planned changes designed to improve the care of riders.
