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Journal of experimental zoology. Part B, Molecular and developmental evolution2022; 338(8); 495-504; doi: 10.1002/jez.b.23172

Comparative embryogenesis in ungulate domesticated species.

Abstract: We compared embryogenesis of five species of domesticated even-toed and one odd-toed ungulate and used a phylogenetic framework to contextualize such comparison. Organ systems that occur relatively earlier in embryogenesis generally have more time to develop and therefore are found to be more mature at birth when compared to structures that appear later in development. We hypothesized that the less mature the animals' organs are at birth, the more they are susceptible to artificial selection. The horse had the most mature organs at birth, followed by cattle, reindeer, sheep/goat, and pig. This pattern of maturity could be observed almost during the entire development. Heterochronic shifts among species were observed only after fur starts to develop. Changes in the fur coloration are one of the first observable signs of domestication and the heterochrony of this trait may be related to the effects on neural crest-derived pigment cells by artificial selection. The six ungulate species also differ in the relative duration of their weaning period and the potential extent of its artificial shortening. We put all these traits in the context of their inherited evolutionary characteristics and artificial domestication process. Related to their altriciality, carnivoran domesticates, which also belong to Scrotifera, are less mature at birth than all domesticated ungulates. Although we detected clear character correlations to life history traits, it is impossible based on the present data, to trace specific exaptations to the domestication process. We hypothesize a deep time developmental penetration of adult characters into embryogenesis.
© 2022 The Authors. Journal of Experimental Zoology Part B: Molecular and Developmental Evolution published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
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Publication Date: 2022-08-01 PubMed ID: 35915572DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.23172Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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This research studied embryogenesis in different domesticated ungulate species with the findings showing a correlation between the maturity of animals’ organs at birth and their susceptibility to artificial selection. The researchers also considered the implications of these findings for the process of domestication.

Comparison of Embryogenesis in Different Ungulate Species

  • The research compared the embryogenesis of five different species of even-toed ungulates and one species of odd-toed ungulate.
  • These different species exhibited variations in the maturity of their organs at birth. The horse had the most mature organs, followed by the cattle, reindeer, sheep/goat, and pigs.
  • This pattern of maturity was observable throughout almost the entire developmental period.

Impact of Heterochronic Shifts and Artificial Selection

  • Heterochronic shifts among the species were noticed only after the development of the fur coat.
  • Changes to fur coloration, which is one of the first observable signs of domestication, may be influenced by artificial selection, impacting neural crest-derived pigment cells.
  • Artificial selection was hypothesized to generate susceptibility in animals with less mature organs at birth, as they have a longer potential development period.

Comparison of Altriciality and Weaning Period

  • Altriciality, or the state of being born in an undeveloped state, was also compared across the studied species.
  • Carnivoran domesticates, which also belong to Scrotifera, were found to be less mature at birth compared to all domesticated ungulates.
  • The weaning period also varied across the different ungulate species and this could be artificially shortened.

Embryogenesis and Evolutionary Characteristics of Domestication

  • The research placed the traits identified within the context of inherited evolutionary characteristics and the process of domestication.
  • Though correlations were drawn between life history traits and embryogenesis, it was impossible based on the existing data to track specific exaptations to the domestication process.
  • The researchers proposed a hypothesis that adult traits are deeply embedded within embryogenesis.

Cite This Article

APA
Schlindwein X, Werneburg I. (2022). Comparative embryogenesis in ungulate domesticated species. J Exp Zool B Mol Dev Evol, 338(8), 495-504. https://doi.org/10.1002/jez.b.23172

Publication

Journal of experimental zoology. Part B, Molecular and developmental evolution
ISSN: 1552-5015
NlmUniqueID: 101168228
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 338
Issue: 8
Pages: 495-504

Researcher Affiliations

Schlindwein, Xenia
  • Fachbereich Geowissenschaften an der Eberhard-Karls-Universität Tübingen, Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
  • Senckenberg Centre for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment an der Universität Tübingen, Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
Werneburg, Ingmar
  • Fachbereich Geowissenschaften an der Eberhard-Karls-Universität Tübingen, Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
  • Senckenberg Centre for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment an der Universität Tübingen, Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.

MeSH Terms

  • Cattle
  • Animals
  • Sheep
  • Swine
  • Horses
  • Selection, Genetic
  • Phylogeny
  • Domestication
  • Mammals
  • Embryonic Development

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Nojiri T, Werneburg I, Tu VT, Fukui D, Takechi M, Iseki S, Furutera T, Koyabu D. Timing of organogenesis underscores the evolution of neonatal life histories and powered flight in bats. Proc Biol Sci 2023 Jan 11;290(1990):20221928.
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