Evolution of the nervous system: Role of ontogenetic mechanisms in the evolution of matching populations

Abstract

Systems that depend for their function on the interacting expression of many genes will constrain evolution, because the effects of a heritable change will have to mesh with the effects of the unchanged genes in order to be functional. In general, it would seem that the more a system is built upon complex interactions (i.e., interactions requiring the cooperation of products of different genes), the fewer heritable changes will prove to be evolutionary. The nervous system is highly interdependent, and yet it has evolved extensively (1). The nervous system, therefore, offers a place to examine how evolutionary changes can be made under the constraints imposed by highly interdependent systems. 1349The costs of publication of this article ere defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. This article must therefore be hereby marked ""advertisement" in accordance with 18 U. S. C §1734 solely to indicate this fact.

Infrapyramidal mossy fibers and two-way avoidance learning: developmental modification of hippocampal circuitry and adult behavior of rats and mice

“…Any structural and biochemical anomaly that occurs early in development may mask its consequences on behavior with a combination of homeostatic mechanisms and developmental reorganization-the developmental buffers (Katz and Lasek, 1978;Lipp, 1979Lipp, , 1988Lipp and Schwegler, 1982;Katz, 1983). These may prevent the expression of many early thyroxine effects, or make them, at least, highly unpredictable.…”

Comparative Analysis of Neurotrophin Receptors and Ligands in Vertebrate Neurons: Tools for Evolutionary Stability or Changes in Neural Circuits?

“…It has been suggested that trophic interactions might present important phylogenetic strategies [Katz and Lasek, 1978;Ebbesson, 1984;Black, 1986;Finlay et al, 1987;Purves, 1988;Williams and Herrup, 1988], but the molecular mechanisms have remained largely obscure. In the last two decades a significant amount of new data on ontogenetic roles of transcription factors as well as neurotrophins has emerged.…”

Spatiotemporal clustering of cell death in the avian forebrain proliferative zone

“…Traditionally, most apoptotic death was thought to occur in post-proliferative cells that have begun to form synaptic connections (Katz & Lasek, 1978;Oppenheim, 1985;Yaginuma et al, 1996;Clarke et al, 1998;Bennet et al, 2002;Buss et al, 2006). However, several studies have suggested that apoptosis may occur also in proliferating precursors (e.g., Nikolapopoulou et al, 2006).…”