Comparative Morphology: the revival of the Sleeping Beauty

En este trabajo comparto mis reflexiones acerca del apogeo de la morfología comparada durante la escuela alemana de la Filosofía Natural. Propongo que esta corriente epistemológica nace como una reacción de los intelectuales de la época a las terribles condiciones en que los datos anatómicos eran obtenidos, de criminales ejecutados, robo de cadáveres, etc., sumado a la situación socio-económicas crítica de la época. Asimilo el ocaso histórico de la Morfología Comparada con la preponderancia de los estudios genéticos y ecológicos generados por la Síntesis Evolutiva Moderna y su renacimiento en nuestros días debido a que el programa de investigación conocido como Evo Devo vuelve a centrar sus preguntas en el origen de la forma, sumado a la matematización de los estudios morfológicos a través de la Morfometría Geomé- trica y Ecomorfología. Hago un paralelismo con la historia de la Bella Durmiente‚ quien‚ como la Morfología‚ permanece suspendida durante mucho tiempo en un estado de inconsciencia aparentemente irreversible e improductivo, hasta que revive con todas sus facultades intactas, incrementadas y listas para ser desarrolladas en toda su plenitud.In this work I share my thoughts about of the climax of the Comparative Morphology contemporaneous with the raising of the german Naturphilosophie. I propose that this epistemological perspective arose as a reaction of the intellectuals against the horrible context in which the anatomical data were obtained: death bodies, organ robberies, plus the socioeconomic crisis in that epoch. I relate the decline of the Comparative Morphology to the preponderance of the genetical and ecological research derived from the Evolutive Theory. The revival of the Comparative Morphology occurs with the advent of the Evo Devo research program, that poses important questions about morphology, and the mathematical approach of the morphological studies through the Geometrical Morphology and Ecomorphology. I trace a parallel with the Sleeping Beauty story in which someone remains in a suspended dream as with the Morphology, until the scientific community is ready to pay attention to that person, recognizing that much remains to be discovered by studying the morphology of the living beings.Fil: Abdala, Virginia Sara Luz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucuman. Instituto de Biodiversidad Neotropical. Universidad Nacional de Tucuman. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Instituto de Biodiversidad Neotropical. Instituto de Biodiversidad Neotropical; Argentin

Evolution and identity of synapsid carpal bones

To date there is little information on carpal bone homology in late Palaeozoic and Mesozoic Synapsida. Crucial to the understanding of homology in synapsid carpal elements is the fact that different nomenclatures are used for the carpals of non-mammaliamorph Synapsida (Gegenbauer?s canonical nomenclature) and Mammaliaformes (mammalian nomencla-ture). The homologies of the carpals of non-mammaliamorph synapsids and mammals were established early last century and have not been reviewed since then. Here we provide a detailed study of the carpal bones of synapsids ranging in age from the early Permian to Late Cretaceous. The mammaliamorph lunate, previously considered the homologue of the intermedium of non-mammaliamorph synapsids, is interpreted here as homologous to their lateral centrale. We interpret the single mammaliamorph centrale as a homologue of the medial centrale of non-mammaliamorph synapsids. In some synapsid specimens, we found that one or two centralia are fused to the radiale (e.g., the gorgonopsian Arctognathus and tritylodontid Bienotheroides), supporting a digging habit. A third centrale is present in the therocephalian Theriognathus, very likely an abnormal duplication. An additional medial bone in a biarmosuchian was interpreted as a prepollex/sesamoid. A cartilaginous prepollex/sesamoid may also have been present in several non-mammaliamorph synapsids, which have an open space proximal to distal carpal I. Distal carpal V is completely lost in dicynodonts and it is mainly fused to distal carpal IV in the adult stage of most other therapsid groups, but showed a delayed development in most non-mammaliamorph cynodonts. In mammaliamorphs, distal carpal V is not present. Our observations provide an up-dated revision of synapsid carpal homologies, mainly on the basis of position and anatomical contacts and also taking into account the results of embryological studiesFil: Kummell, S.. University Witten/herdecke; AlemaniaFil: Abdala, Nestor Fernando. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - Tucumán. Unidad Ejecutora Lillo; ArgentinaFil: Sassoon, J.. University Of Bristol; Reino UnidoFil: Abdala, Virginia Sara Luz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Biodiversidad Neotropical. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Instituto de Biodiversidad Neotropical. Instituto de Biodiversidad Neotropical; Argentin

Does the Morphology of the Forelimb Flexor Muscles Differ Between Lizards Using Different Habitats?

Lizards are an interesting group to study how habitat use impacts the morphology of the forelimb because they occupy a great diversity of ecological niches. In this study, we specifically investigated whether habitat use impacts the morphology of the forelimb flexor muscles in lizards. To do so, we performed dissections and quantified the physiological cross sectional area (PCSA), the fiber length, and the mass of four flexor muscles in 21 different species of lizards. Our results show that only the PCSA of the m. flexor carpi radialis is different among lizards with different ecologies (arboreal versus non-arboreal). This difference disappeared, however, when taking phylogeny into account. Arboreal species have a higher m. flexor carpi radialis cross sectional area likely allowing them to flex the wrist more forcefully which may allow them climb and hold on to branches better. In contrast, other muscles are not different between arboreal and non-arboreal species. Further studies focusing on additional anatomical features of the lizard forelimb as well as studies documenting how lizards use the arboreal niche are needed to fully understand how an arboreal life style may constrain limb morphology in lizards. Anat Rec, 301:424–433, 2018.Fil: Lowie, Aurélien. Museum National D'histoire Naturelle. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique; FranciaFil: Herrel, Anthony. Museum National D'histoire Naturelle. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique; FranciaFil: Abdala, Virginia Sara Luz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Biodiversidad Neotropical. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Instituto de Biodiversidad Neotropical. Instituto de Biodiversidad Neotropical; ArgentinaFil: Manzano, Adriana Silvina. Provincia de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción. Universidad Autónoma de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción; ArgentinaFil: Fabre, Anne Claire. Museum National D'histoire Naturelle. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique; Franci

Osteología en Homonota withii y Homonota darwini (Sauria: gekkonidae)

Siguiendo la técnica de transparentación de vertebrados pequeños fijados en formalina (Wasserburg, 1976), se realizó la observación y descripción de esqueletos de animales pertenecientes a ambas especies. Se presentan comparaciones en forma de cuadro con otras especies anteriormente analizadas (Abdala, inéd.).El presente documento es un resumen del trabajoAsociación Herpetológica Argentin

Morfometría en dos especies del género Phimophis cope

Tomando 27 medidas, todas de la cabeza, a 10 ejemplares, se encontraron algunos de los mejores caracteres de proporción que pueden ayudar a distinguir las especies Phimophis vittatus y Phimophis guerini.Asociación Herpetológica Argentin

Immunomodulatory, antioxidant and anti-tumor capacity of acidic polysaccharides from Euglena gracilis.

Euglena sp. is a microalga producer of important molecules for the Biotechnology industry, since it is a producer of substances such as vitamins A, C and E, essential amino acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, β-carotenes and paramilon (β-1,3-glucan). It has a modulating effect on the immune system, moderates blood glucose and the response to insulin, has anti-tumor activity and a cholesterol-lowering effect. In addition, its sulphated derivatives have anti-HIV activity. The present study was carried out with the objective of determining the immunomodulatory, antioxidant and anticancer activity of the acid polysaccharides extracted from Euglena gracilis. MTT colorimeter tests were carried out for the analysis of cytotoxicity on healthy cell lines murine macrophages (RAW 264.7) and human gingival fibroblasts (HGF-1) and for the anticancer activity cell lines were used colon cancer (HCT-116), breast cancer (MCF-7) and human leukemia (U-937) .The polysaccharide concentration at which cell survival was reduced by half (IC50) was estimated with these assays, showing that these polysaccharides have antitumor activity mainly on U-937 cells. (IC50 = 0.027 mg ml-1) against HCT-116 cells (IC50 = 0.036 mg ml-1) and MCF-7 (IC50 = 0.11 mg ml-1) An immunological test was performed to see the immunomodulatory capacity of the polysaccharides with which the production of proinflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α was determined by macrophages RAW 264.7 It was observed that these polysaccharides have a great stimulating capacity in the synthesis of these interleukins. Antioxidant capacity was (7.19 μmol TE g-1). In agreement with these results, it is suggested that E. gracilis polysaccharides could be considered for future studies as potential nutraceuticals that require their application when the activation of macrophages is needed.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Osteología en Homonota horrida y Homonota underwoodi (Sauria: gekkonidae)

Observación y descripción de esqueletos de animales pertenecientes a ambas especies.Asociación Herpetológica Argentin

Comparative morphology: the revival of the Sleeping Beauty

En este trabajo comparto mis reflexiones acerca del apogeo de la morfología comparada durante la escuela alemana de la Filosofía Natural. Propongo que esta corriente epistemológica nace como una reacción de los intelectuales de la época a las terribles condiciones en que los datos anatómicos eran obtenidos, de criminales ejecutados, robo de cadáveres, etc., sumado a la situación socio-económicas crítica de la época. Asimilo el ocaso histórico de la morfología comparada con la preponderancia de los estudios genéticos y ecológicos generados por la síntesis evolutiva moderna y su renacimiento en nuestros días debido a que el programa de investigación conocido como Evo Devo vuelve a centrar sus preguntas en el origen de la forma, sumado a la matematización de los estudios morfológicos a través de la morfometría geométrica y ecomorfología. Hago un paralelismo con la historia de la Bella Durmiente‚ quien‚ como la morfología‚ permanece suspendida durante mucho tiempo en un estado de inconsciencia aparentemente irreversible e improductivo, hasta que revive con todas sus facultades intactas, incrementadas y listas para ser desarrolladas en toda su plenitud.In this work I share my thoughts about of the climax of the comparative morphology contemporaneous with the raising of the german Naturphilosophie. I propose that this epistemological perspective arose as a reaction of the intellectuals against the horrible context in which the anatomical data were obtained: death bodies, organ robberies, plus the socioeconomic crisis in that epoch. I relate the decline of the comparative morphology to the preponderance of the genetical and ecological research derived from the evolutive theory. The revival of the comparative morphology occurs with the advent of the Evo Devo research program, that poses important questions about morphology, and the mathematical approach of the morphological studies through the geometrical morphology and ecomorphology. I trace a parallel with the Sleeping Beauty story in which someone remains in a suspended dream as with the morphology, until the scientific community is ready to pay attention to that person, recognizing that much remains to be discovered by studying the morphology of the living beings.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Osteología en Homonota withii y Homonota darwini (Sauria: gekkonidae)

Siguiendo la técnica de transparentación de vertebrados pequeños fijados en formalina (Wasserburg, 1976), se realizó la observación y descripción de esqueletos de animales pertenecientes a ambas especies. Se presentan comparaciones en forma de cuadro con otras especies anteriormente analizadas (Abdala, inéd.).El presente documento es un resumen del trabajoAsociación Herpetológica Argentin

Comparative morphology: the revival of the Sleeping Beauty

En este trabajo comparto mis reflexiones acerca del apogeo de la morfología comparada durante la escuela alemana de la Filosofía Natural. Propongo que esta corriente epistemológica nace como una reacción de los intelectuales de la época a las terribles condiciones en que los datos anatómicos eran obtenidos, de criminales ejecutados, robo de cadáveres, etc., sumado a la situación socio-económicas crítica de la época. Asimilo el ocaso histórico de la morfología comparada con la preponderancia de los estudios genéticos y ecológicos generados por la síntesis evolutiva moderna y su renacimiento en nuestros días debido a que el programa de investigación conocido como Evo Devo vuelve a centrar sus preguntas en el origen de la forma, sumado a la matematización de los estudios morfológicos a través de la morfometría geométrica y ecomorfología. Hago un paralelismo con la historia de la Bella Durmiente‚ quien‚ como la morfología‚ permanece suspendida durante mucho tiempo en un estado de inconsciencia aparentemente irreversible e improductivo, hasta que revive con todas sus facultades intactas, incrementadas y listas para ser desarrolladas en toda su plenitud.In this work I share my thoughts about of the climax of the comparative morphology contemporaneous with the raising of the german Naturphilosophie. I propose that this epistemological perspective arose as a reaction of the intellectuals against the horrible context in which the anatomical data were obtained: death bodies, organ robberies, plus the socioeconomic crisis in that epoch. I relate the decline of the comparative morphology to the preponderance of the genetical and ecological research derived from the evolutive theory. The revival of the comparative morphology occurs with the advent of the Evo Devo research program, that poses important questions about morphology, and the mathematical approach of the morphological studies through the geometrical morphology and ecomorphology. I trace a parallel with the Sleeping Beauty story in which someone remains in a suspended dream as with the morphology, until the scientific community is ready to pay attention to that person, recognizing that much remains to be discovered by studying the morphology of the living beings.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse