Project information
A molecular roadmap for the emergence of air breathing

Demand for oxygen is a crucial driver of evolution in eukaryotes, and its limited availability in certain environments can prompt more efficient uptake strategies. While we grasp the basics of how such adaptations evolve, detailed molecular insights into environment-induced genetic changes remain limited.
Studying unconventional model organisms undergoing life cycle transitions in oxygen uptake mechanisms can elucidate the molecular and physiological basis of these adaptations. An intriguing example is the paradise fish (Macropodus opercularis), specifically their shift from gill respiration to breathing through the labyrinth organ (LO). The LO originates from the pharyngeal arches through a developmentally flexible process influenced by air-breathing. Our aim is to uncover the molecular mechanisms governing the emergence of the LO and air breathing by integrating evolutionary analysis, genomics, and developmental biology. Our findings will spotlight the molecular foundations of the evolvability of the pharyngeal arches,that gave rise to vital features like limbs, jaws, and teeth, contributing to the success of vertebrates, including ourselves.