Comparative Transcriptomics of Amphinomida (Annelida)
Abstract
Annelida is a diverse phylum that includes leeches, earthworms, polychaetes, and several model species like Platynereis dumerilii (clam worm), Helobdella robusta (leech), and Capitella capitata (polychaete worm), that are important in the fields of evolutionary developmental biology, neurobiology, ecology, evolution and phylogenomics. Our research seeks to identify and characterize gene annotations from transcriptome data collected from previously unevaluated amphinomid clades, Euphrosinidae (Euphrosine capensis), and Archinominae (Chloeia pinnata), and to supplement knowledge of Amphinominae (Paramphinome jeffreysii and Hermodice carunculata). Amphinomida remains understudied in terms of whole transcriptome analyses relative to more well studied annelids such as Capitella teleta and Helobdella robusta. To make transcriptomic comparisons, orthologous proteins within the amphinomids and a Lophotrochozoan database were identified and annotated for downstream analysis of phylogenomic relationships and exploration of biological pathways. Expanding transcriptomic analyses from previously unevaluated clades in Amphinomida may provide key evolutionary insights into the biological, physiological and morphological diversity of Annelida.
Citation
Bartlett, Arianna P. (2018). Comparative Transcriptomics of Amphinomida (Annelida). Undergraduate Research Scholars Program. Available electronically from https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /188516.