Degree Type
Honors Capstone Project
Date of Submission
Spring 5-1-2009
Capstone Advisor
Dr. R. Craig Albertson
Honors Reader
Dr. Al Uy
Capstone Major
Biology
Capstone College
Arts and Science
Audio/Visual Component
no
Capstone Prize Winner
no
Won Capstone Funding
yes
Honors Categories
Sciences and Engineering
Subject Categories
Biology
Abstract
To understand the evolution of craniofacial asymmetry within the Perissodini tribe, a group of scale-eating fish found in Lake Tanganyika, we performed shape analysis on their craniofacial architecture, and applied a simple lever model to measure asymmetry in lower-jaw mechanics. We found that craniofacial asymmetries were the consequence of sided differences in size and shape of craniofacial elements, and that sided differences in shape predict the lateralization of force and speed of the lower jaw in derived species. Quantitative Trait Locus analysis in Lake Malawi cichlids identified a single locus of major effect for jaw laterality, the first genetic marker for handedness in an antisymmetric trait. Studying the evolution of laterality in Perissodus and ultimately identifying the genetic factors that contribute to the asymmetric development of skeletal structures will shed light on the evolutionary and clinical consequences of vertebrate laterality.
Recommended Citation
Stewart, Thomas A., "Evolution of Craniofacial Architecture and Lateralization in Perissodini Scale-Eaters" (2009). Honors Capstone Projects - All. 448.
https://surface.syr.edu/honors_capstone/448
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.
