This research introduces innovative tools for studying embryonic neurogenesis in the gecko Paroedura picta. Traditional research methods have been adapted for the gecko's unique biology, including variations of birthdating techniques and the implementation of EdU for tracking neuron generation. We also employ hybridization chain reaction (HCR) to detect specific mRNAs without the need for species-specific antibodies, providing a powerful and flexible tool for studying gene expression patterns in the gecko embryonic brain. However, HCR can also be combined with immunohistochemistry to visualize both RNA and protein distribution. Our work proves the importance of this innovative toolset to understand the evolutionary aspects of nervous system development and the gecko as a valuable model for understanding the ancestral stem amniote.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-4386-0_9 | DOI Listing |
Methods Mol Biol
March 2025
Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience, Scientific Park of the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Spain.
This research introduces innovative tools for studying embryonic neurogenesis in the gecko Paroedura picta. Traditional research methods have been adapted for the gecko's unique biology, including variations of birthdating techniques and the implementation of EdU for tracking neuron generation. We also employ hybridization chain reaction (HCR) to detect specific mRNAs without the need for species-specific antibodies, providing a powerful and flexible tool for studying gene expression patterns in the gecko embryonic brain.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEvol Dev
September 2024
Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.
Ectothermic vertebrates such as reptiles were assumed to be indeterminate growers, which means that there is no terminal point in time or size for growth in their lifetime. In recent years, evidence for the determinate nature of growth in lizards has accumulated, necessitating a re-examination of models of their ontogeny and evolution of sexual size dimorphism (SSD). In the female-larger gecko Paroedura vazimba, we monitored post-embryonic growth over a period of 15 months.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAnimals (Basel)
June 2024
Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Science, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci 4/B, 87036 Rende, Italy.
We present a comparative chromosome study of several taxa of the Malagasy ground geckos of the and species groups. We employed a preliminary molecular analysis using a trait of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene (of about 570 bp) to assess the taxonomic status of the samples studied and a cytogenetic analysis with standard karyotyping (5% Giemsa solution), silver staining (Ag-NOR staining) and sequential C-banding (C-banding + Giemsa and + fluorochromes). Our results show that all the taxa studied of the group (, and cf.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSci Rep
February 2024
Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.
Chameleons are well-known lizards with unique morphology and physiology, but their sex determination has remained poorly studied. Madagascan chameleons of the genus Furcifer have cytogenetically distinct Z and W sex chromosomes and occasionally ZZZZ/ZZW multiple neo-sex chromosomes. To identify the gene content of their sex chromosomes, we microdissected and sequenced the sex chromosomes of F.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiol Lett
January 2024
Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, Prague, Czech Republic.
Endothermic and ectothermic amniotes differ in the timing of reproductive onset, with reptiles initiating reproduction before reaching final body size. Long-term consequences of maternal effect for early reptile offspring are poorly explored. We conducted growth experiments to compare the growth of offspring produced by young and older females of gecko .
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