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Abstract The third iteration of the Cnidarian Model Systems Meeting (Cnidofest) was held August 14–17th, 2024 at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA. The meeting featured presentations from laboratories representing 11 countries, covering a broad range of topics related to cnidarian species. The research highlighted diverse topics, with sessions focused on regeneration, evo-devo, genomics, symbiosis, cell biology, physiology, neurobiology, and development. A notable shift at this meeting was the extent to which established cnidarian model systems have caught up with the classical laboratory models such asDrosophilaand vertebrates, with modern genomic, genetic, and molecular tools now routinely applied. In addition, more cnidarian systems are now being developed for functional studies by the community, enhancing our ability to gain fundamental insights into animal biology that are otherwise difficult in the complex bilaterian model systems. Together, the integration of cnidarian and bilaterian model systems provides researchers with a broader toolkit for selecting animal models best suited to address their specific biological questions.
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Cnidofest 2022: hot topics in cnidarian research
Abstract The second annual Cnidarian Model Systems Meeting, aka “Cnidofest”, took place in Davis, California from 7 to 10th of September, 2022. The meeting brought together scientists using cnidarians to study molecular and cellular biology, development and regeneration, evo-devo, neurobiology, symbiosis, physiology, and comparative genomics. The diversity of topics and species represented in presentations highlighted the importance and versatility of cnidarians in addressing a wide variety of biological questions. In keeping with the spirit of the first meeting (and its predecessor, Hydroidfest), almost 75% of oral presentations were given by early career researchers (i.e., graduate students and postdocs). In this review, we present research highlights from the meeting.
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- PAR ID:
- 10502098
- Publisher / Repository:
- Springer
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- EvoDevo
- Volume:
- 14
- Issue:
- 1
- ISSN:
- 2041-9139
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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Abstract Cnidarians—the phylum including sea anemones, corals, jellyfish, and hydroids—are one of the oldest groups of predatory animals. Nearly all cnidarians are carnivores that use stinging cells called cnidocytes to ensnare and/or envenom their prey. However, there is considerable diversity in cnidocyte form and function. Tracing the evolutionary history of cnidocytes may therefore provide a proxy for early animal feeding strategies. In this study, we generated a time‐calibrated molecular clock of cnidarians and performed ancestral state reconstruction on 12 cnidocyte types to test the hypothesis that the original cnidocyte was involved in prey capture. We conclude that the first cnidarians had only the simplest and least specialized cnidocyte type (the isorhiza) which was just as likely to be used for adhesion and/or defense as the capture of prey. A rapid diversification of specialized cnidocytes occurred through the Ediacaran (~654–574 million years ago), with major subgroups developing unique sets of cnidocytes to match their distinct feeding styles. These results are robust to changes in the molecular clock model, and are consistent with growing evidence for an Ediacaran diversification of animals. Our work also provides insight into the evolution of this complex cell type, suggesting that convergence of forms is rare, with the mastigophore being an interesting counterexample.more » « less
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- Free Publicly Accessible Full Text
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Accepted Manuscript1.0
- Journal Article:
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s13227-023-00217-9
