Embryos acquire lineage-specific morphologies as they develop. These same morphologies are acquired by the lineage more slowly over evolutionary time. By closely examining embryos of various ages, we can determine the relationship between the time of character appearance in evolution, and the time of its appearance in development.

We are also testing the usefulness of developmental characters, such as ossification sequences, for phylogenetic reconstruction.

 

 

 

Student Researchers: Erin Maxwell