Molecular basis of Urostyle development [RNA-seq]

Evolutionary novelties entail the origin of morphologies that enable new functions. These features can arise through changes to gene function and regulation. One important noveltyis the fused rod at the end of the vertebral column in anurans, the urostyle. This feature is composed of a coccyx and an ossifying hypochord, and both structures ossify during metamorphosis. These experiments reveal that the coccyx and hypochord have two different molecular signatures. ATAC-seq data reveals potential regulatory regions that are observed in proximity to candidate genes identified from RNA-seq. Overall design: We used Laser Capture Micro-dissection of these identified tissues and subjected them to RNA-seq and ATAC-seq analyses at three developmental stages (during tadpole metamorphic climax) in tadpoles of Xenopus tropicalis.