Marine Organisms as Model Systems in Biology and Medicine

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xxi

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2. Gametes, Maturation, Fertilization and Modes of Reproduction

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1

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   2. Marine Nemertean Worms for Studies of Oocyte Maturation and Aging

      • Stephen A. Stricker

      Pages 3-14

   3. Sperm Nuclear Basic Proteins of Marine Invertebrates

      • Anna Török, Sebastian G. Gornik

      Pages 15-32

   4. Fertilization in Starfish and Sea Urchin: Roles of Actin

      • Jong Tai Chun, Filip Vasilev, Nunzia Limatola, Luigia Santella

      Pages 33-47

   5. Starfish as a Model System for Analyzing Signal Transduction During Fertilization

      • Emily Wiseman, Lauren Bates, Altair Dubé, David J. Carroll

      Pages 49-67

   6. Toward Multiscale Modeling of Molecular and Biochemical Events Occurring at Fertilization Time in Sea Urchins

      • Harold Moundoyi, Josselin Demouy, Sophie Le Panse, Julia Morales, Benoît Sarels, Patrick Cormier

      Pages 69-89

   7. Monosex in Aquaculture

      • Tomer Ventura

      Pages 91-101

3. Embryonic and Post-embryonic Development, and the Evolution of the Body Plan

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 103-103

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   2. Medusa: A Review of an Ancient Cnidarian Body Form

      • Cheryl Lewis Ames

      Pages 105-136

   3. Sea Urchin Larvae as a Model for Postembryonic Development

      • Andreas Heyland, Nicholas Schuh, Jonathan Rast

      Pages 137-161

   4. The Ciona Notochord Gene Regulatory Network

      • Michael Veeman

      Pages 163-184

   5. Model Systems for Exploring the Evolutionary Origins of the Nervous System

      • Karri M. Haen Whitmer

      Pages 185-196

   6. Nonprotein-Coding RNAs as Regulators of Development in Tunicates

      • Cristian A. Velandia-Huerto, Federico D. Brown, Adriaan Gittenberger, Peter F. Stadler, Clara I. Bermúdez-Santana

      Pages 197-225

4. Differentiation, Regeneration and Stemness

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 227-227

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   2. Differentiation and Transdifferentiation of Sponge Cells

      • Maja Adamska

      Pages 229-253

   3. Holothurians as a Model System to Study Regeneration

      • José E. García-Arrarás, María I. Lázaro-Peña, Carlos A. Díaz-Balzac

      Pages 255-283

   4. Regeneration in Stellate Echinoderms: Crinoidea, Asteroidea and Ophiuroidea

      • Yousra Ben Khadra, Michela Sugni, Cinzia Ferrario, Francesco Bonasoro, Paola Oliveri, Pedro Martinez et al.

      Pages 285-320

   5. Solitary Ascidians as Model Organisms in Regenerative Biology Studies

      • Tal Gordon, Noa Shenkar

      Pages 321-336

   6. Whole-Body Regeneration in the Colonial Tunicate Botrylloides leachii

      • Simon Blanchoud, Buki Rinkevich, Megan J. Wilson

      Pages 337-355

This book highlights the potential advantages of using marine invertebrates like tunicates, echinoderms, sponges and cephalopods as models in both biological and medical research. Bioactive compounds found in marine organisms possess antibacterial, antifungal, anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory properties, and can affect the immune and nervous systems. Despite substantial research on the medicinal attributes of various marine invertebrates, they are still very much underrepresented in scientific literature: the majority of cell, developmental and evolutionary scientific journals only publish research conducted on a few well-known model systems like Drosophila melanogaster or Xenopus laevis. 

Addressing that gap, this book introduces readers to new model organisms like starfish or nemertera. By showing their benefits with regard to regeneration, stem cell research and Evo-Devo, the authors provide a cross-sectional view encompassing various disciplines ofbiological research. As such, this book will not only appeal to scientists currently working on marine organisms, but will also inspire future generations to pursue research of their own.

• Marine invertebrates
• Marine organisms
• Model systems
• Regeneration
• Echinoderms
• Tunicates

• Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, USA

  Malgorzata Kloc

• Institute of Genetics and Development of Rennes, Université de Rennes, Rennes, France

  Jacek Z. Kubiak

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