Environmental and molecular regulation of asexual reproduction in the cnidarian Nematostella vectensis

We demonstrated that the presence of substrate is effectively required for transverse fission, that animal size does not affect fission rates, and that the position of physal pinching is fixed along the oral-aboral axis of the polyp. Gene expression analyses revealed a role for putative homeobox transcription factors, and components of TGFß, Notch, and FGF signaling pathways in the transverse fission process. Overall design: ntotal = 6. 3 time points (x3 replicates at each). Samples ND1,ND2,ND3 were actively undergoing asexual reproduction in substrate when sacrificed and physal tissue excised for sequencing. Samples PD1,PD2,PD3 were in a steady-state with substrate present when sacrificed and physal tissue excised for sequencing.