Research Interests

evo devo, phylogenetic, hemichordates, deuterostomes, Patiria miniata, Ptychodera flava

Research Area

The Arnone group main focus is to elucidate how gene regulatory networks evolved to guide diverse organogenetic processes. Of particular interest to us is to understand which are the elements controlling the differentiation of the embryonic archenteron into a complex tripartite larval digestive tract equipped with distinct cell types regulating its function. To answer this question, we use Echinoderms that are phylogenetically, together with the sister group hemichordates, ancient lineages of living nonchordate deuterostomes. Therefore, they provide an invaluable outgroup for assessment of what is ancient in chordates, what is chordate-specific, what is protostome specific and represent a key group for studying the origin of deuterostomes. In our comparative studies, we use two sea urchin species: the Pacific Ocean species Strongylocentrotus purpuratus and the Mediterranean species Paracentrotus lividus as well as the Pacific Ocean starfish species Patiria miniata.

Contact

Institution: Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn di Napoli

Web Page: https://arnonelab.it/

General/Lab Fax: 39 081 5833203

Personal Phone: 39 081 7641355