ABSTRACT A major goal of evolutionary science is to understand how biological diversity is
generated and altered. Despite considerable advances, we still have limited insight into how …

During the development of the vertebrate feeding apparatus, a variety of complicated
cellular and molecular processes participate in the formation and integration of individual …

The facial surface ectoderm is essential for normal development of the underlying cranial
neural crest cell populations, providing signals that direct appropriate growth, patterning …

The availability of diverse ecological niches can promote adaptation of trophic
specializations and related traits, as has been repeatedly observed in evolutionary …

The development of craniofacial skeletal structures requires well-orchestrated tissue
interactions controlled by distinct molecular signals. Disruptions in normal function of these …

Background The oral and pharyngeal jaw of cichlid fishes are a classic example of
evolutionary modularity as their functional decoupling boosted trophic diversification and …

The establishment of a given phenotype is only one expression from a range of hidden
developmental possibilities. Developmental plasticity at hidden reaction norms might elicit …

Morphological differentiation among closely related species provides opportunities to study
mechanisms sha** natural phenotypic variation. Here, we address variation in the …

Age at maturity is a key life history trait and a significant contributor to life history strategy
variation. The maturation process is influenced by genetic and environmental factors, but …

Background Understanding how variation in gene expression contributes to morphological
diversity is a major goal in evolutionary biology. Cichlid fishes from the East African Great …