A network of interactions is called modular if it is subdivided into relatively autonomous,
internally highly connected components. Modularity has emerged as a rallying point for …

Developmental bias, or genetic channeling, can influence the tempo and direction of
evolution and, thus, become reflected in patterns of biodiversity. Twenty years ago, this …

The phenotype of an organism is determined by the genes, the environment and stochastic
developmental events. Although recognized as a basic biological principle influencing life …

This study addresses the role of sonic hedgehog (shh) in increasing oral–pharyngeal
constructive traits (jaws and taste buds) at the expense of eyes in the blind cavefish …

Cave animals are excellent models to study the general principles of evolution as well as the
mechanisms of adaptation to a novel environment: the perpetual darkness of caves. In this …

The adaptability of the taste system in fish has led to a large variety in taste bud morphology,
abundance and distribution, as well as in taste physiology characteristics in closely related …

Morphological, physiological, behavioral, and developmental studies of the
mechanosensory lateral line system are used to define sources of morphological and …

Background How and why animals lose eyesight during adaptation to the dark and food-
limited cave environment has puzzled biologists since the time of Darwin. More recently …

Study of the model organisms of developmental biology was crucial in establishing evo–
devo as a new discipline. However, it has been claimed that this limited sample of …

Animals inhabiting the darkness of caves are generally blind and de-pigmented, regardless
of the phylum they belong to. Survival in this environment is an enormous challenge, the …