Epigenetic Mechanisms of the Cambrian Explosion

__Epigenetic Mechanisms of the Cambrian Explosion__ provides readers with a basic biological knowledge and epigenetic explanation of the biological puzzle of the Cambrian explosion, the unprecedented rapid diversification of animals that began 542 million years ago. During an evolutionarily instant of ~10 million years, which represents only 0.3% of the time of existence of life on Earth, or less than 2% of the time of existence of metazoans, all of the 30 extant body plans, major animal groups (phyla) and several extinct groups appeared. The work helps address this phenomena and tries to answer remaining questions for evolutionary biology, epigenetics, and scientific researchers. The book recognizes and presents objective representations of alternative theories for epigenetic evolution in this period, with the author drawing on his epigenetic theory of evolution to explain the causal basis of the Cambrian explosion. Both empirical evidence and theoretical arguments are presented in support of this thought-provoking epigenetic theory. Cover Epigenetic Mechanisms of the Cambrian Explosion Copyright Introduction References Further reading 1 - Pre-ediacaran evolution Emergence of animal multicellularity Emergence of multicellularity Choanoflagellates Transition to multicellularity: new structure, new rules of game Evolution of the control system The choanocyte genome Choanoflagellates as precursors of metazoan multicellularity An “epigenetics first” hypothesis of emergence of multicellularity Placozoans Morphology Reproduction The genome Behavior The control system in placozoans Evolution References Further reading 2 - Phanerozoic evolution—Ediacaran biota Ediacaran fauna—the prelude to the Cambrian explosion Fossil record The end of Ediacaran biota Sponges (Porifera) Fossil record Morphology Reproduction Evolution Development The control system and behavior in sponges Evolution of the neuron: the second informational revolution Evolution of the synapse Synaptic proteins in unicellulars Synaptic proteins in nerveless metazoans Evolution of the action potential and voltage-gated ionic channels On the path to differentiation of the neuron Fossil record and evolution of the neuron Cnidaria Reproduction Development The genome Phylogeny of cnidarians Fossil record Evolution Regeneration Triggers of Cambrian explosion: hypotheses External triggers Oxygen accumulation The Snowball Earth Change in sea salinity Change in the carbon–phosphorus ratio Ecological hypotheses Advent of predation Bioturbation Extinction of Ediacaran biota Internal triggers Evolution of Hox genes The advent of the developmental mechanisms of control References 3 - Epigenetic requisites of the Cambrian explosion Gene recruitment Evolution of lens crystallin genes Neural involvement in recruitment of gene regulatory networks for eye development Neural involvement in recruitment of proteins for Bothrops snake venoms Neural involvement in recruitment of sex pheromones in salamanders Other cases of gene recruitment in metazoans Neural induction of epigenetic marks DNA methylation Neural control of DNA demethylation Evolution of DNA methylation Histone modification Neural regulation of histone modifications Epigenetic control of expression patterns and function of microRNAs Evolution of miRNAs Neural activity regulates miRNA expression miRNA regulation by neuropeptides Stress affects miRNA expression patterns Hormonal regulation of miRNAs Alternative splicing Neural regulation of alternative splicing A neural mechanism of accelerated production of splicing isoforms Evolution of splicing Immune defense: epigenetics of arms race with invading microorganisms Evolution of the innate immunity in invertebrates The acquired (adaptive) immunity in vertebrates Evolution of RAG1 and RAG2 genes Neural control of the acquired immune response References 4 - Cambrian explosion: sudden burst of animal bauplaene and morphological diversification End of the ediacaran fauna The conventional ediacaran-cambrian boundary On the reality of the Cambrian explosion Low cambrian trace fossils Evolution of bilateral symmetry Evolution of body segmentation Cambrian fossils Transition to bilateria in extant paradigms Xenacoelomorpha Morphology The genome The nervous system Phylogeny and evolution Planarians Fossil record The genome The nervous system Neural control of behavior Reproduction Morphogenesis and organogenesis Planarian regeneration and development The instructive role of the nervous system in planarian regeneration Neural correlates and driving forces of the Cambrian explosion Selective pressure for centralization of the nervous system Centralized nervous system in cambrian fossils Centralization of the nervous system Evolution of the genome and the complexity of bilaterians Strong correlation between the centralization and growth of the nervous system and the evolution of complexity Centralization of the nervous system and the exponential increase of computational power Evolution of the centralization of the nervous system Instructive role of the nervous system in development, transgenerational inheritance and speciation A brief record of evidence on inductive role of the CNS in development, organogenesis, inheritance of acquired traits, and ... References Further reading 5 - Epilogue Epigenetic mechanisms of evolution and the source of the epigenetic information The CNS has an instructive role in development and organogenesis of extant bilaterians The maintenance of the metazoan structure The CNS and the Cambrian explosion Justifying the extrapolation of the CNS as the source of information in development of extant taxa to the Cambrian diversif ... Conservation of gene regulatory networks and the role of the CNS References Further reading Index A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P R S T U V X Y Back Cover Epigenetic Mechanisms of the Cambrian Explosion provides readers with a basic biological knowledge and epigenetic explanation of the biological puzzle of the Cambrian explosion, the unprecedented rapid diversification of animals that began 542 million years ago. During an evolutionarily instant of ~10 million years, which represents only 0.3% of the time of existence of life on Earth, or less than 2% of the time of existence of metazoans, all of the 30 extant body plans, major animal groups (phyla) and several extinct groups appeared. The work helps address this phenomena and tries to answer remaining questions for evolutionary biology, epigenetics, and scientific researchers. The book recognizes and presents objective representations of alternative theories for epigenetic evolution in this period, with the author drawing on his epigenetic theory of evolution to explain the causal basis of the Cambrian explosion. Both empirical evidence and theoretical arguments are presented in support of this thought-provoking epigenetic theory. Explains the Cambrian explosion from an entirely epigenetic view Takes a causal rather than descriptive approach to the phenomenon Allows for a broad readership, including those with only a basic biological knowledge, while maintaining scientific rigor Epigenetic Mechanisms Of The Cambrian Explosion Provides Readers With A Basic Biological Knowledge And Epigenetic Explanation Of The Biological Puzzle Of The Cambrian Explosion, The Unprecedented Rapid Diversification Of Animals That Began 542 Million Years Ago. During An Evolutionarily Instant Of ~10 Million Years, Which Represents Only 0.3% Of The Time Of Existence Of Life On Earth, Or Less Than 2% Of The Time Of Existence Of Metazoans, All Of The 30 Extant Body Plans, Major Animal Groups (phyla) And Several Extinct Groups Appeared. This Work Helps Address This Phenomena And Tries To Answer Remaining Questions For Evolutionary Biology, Epigenetics, And Scientific Researchers. The Book Recognizes And Presents Objective Representations Of Alternative Theories For Epigenetic Evolution In This Period, With The Author Drawing On His Epigenetic Theory Of Evolution To Explain The Causal Basis Of The Cambrian Explosion. Both Empirical Evidence And Theoretical Arguments Are Presented In Support Of This Thought-provoking Epigenetic Theory--