The role of developmental plasticity in evolutionary innovation

Explaining the origins of novel traits is central to evolutionary biology. Longstanding theory suggests that developmental plasticity, the ability of an individual to modify its development in response to environmental conditions, might facilitate the evolution of novel traits. Yet whether and how such developmental flexibility promotes innovations that persist over evolutionary time remains unclear. Here, we examine three distinct ways by which developmental plasticity can promote evolutionary innovation. First, we show how the process of genetic accommodation provides a feasible and possibly common avenue by which environmentally induced phenotypes can become subject to heritable modification. Second, we posit that the developmental underpinnings of plasticity increase the degrees of freedom by which environmental and genetic factors influence ontogeny, thereby diversifying targets for evolutionary processes to act on and increasing opportunities for the construction of novel, functional and potentially adaptive phenotypes. Finally, we examine the developmental genetic architectures of environment-dependent trait expression, and highlight their specific implications for the evolutionary origin of novel traits. We critically review the empirical evidence supporting each of these processes, and propose future experiments and tests that would further illuminate the interplay between environmental factors, condition-dependent development, and the initiation and elaboration of novel phenotypes

Lasers for Non-melanoma Skin Cancers

According to the most recent incidence data, approximately 3.5 million cases of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) are diagnosed each year, affecting 2.1 million people in the United States alone (Rogers et al., Arch Dermatol 146:283–287, 2010). Basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and squamous cell carcinoma in situ (SCCIS) represent the overwhelming majority of NMSCs, with BCC and its subtypes being the most common malignancy affecting Caucasians (Rogers et al., Arch Dermatol 146:283–287, 2010). Traditional treatments of NMSCs include standard excision, Mohs micrographic surgery, curettage and electrodessication (C&E), cryotherapy, radiotherapy, and topical cytotoxic therapy (e.g. fluorouracil). Some patients, especially those with multiple lesions, may not be amenable to several destructive or surgical interventions due to multiple comorbidities or fear of disfigurement, while others may be unable to tolerate the inflammatory side effects of topical preparations. A less invasive modality with fewer adverse effects and comparable efficacy is needed in certain patient populations, and to this end, lasers have shown great promise in carefully selected patients. This chapter will address the indications, procedural techniques, pre-operative and post-operative considerations as well as the prevention and management of complications when using lasers for the treatment of skin cancer

Synthesis of fatty hydroxamic acids catalyzed by lipase of Mucor miehei

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