Final product

ZOOLOGY LECTURE
Journal:
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION

Article:
Seahorse brood pouch transcriptome reveals
common genes associated with vertebrate
pregnancy

Date:
2015-11-19
Authors:
Camilla M. Whittington1,2
Oliver W. Griffith1
Weihong Qi3
Michael B. Thompson1
Anthony B. Wilson2,4,5
Article entry:
Viviparity (live birth) has evolved more than 150 times in vertebrates, and represents
an excellent model system for studying the evolution of complex traits. There are at
least 23 independent origins of viviparity in fishes, with syngnathid fishes (seahorses
and pipefish) unique in exhibiting male pregnancy. Male seahorses and pipefish have
evolved specialized brooding pouches that provide protection, gas exchange,
osmoregulation and limited nutrient provisioning to developing embryos. Pouch
structures differ widely across the Syngnathidae, offering an ideal opportunity to study
the evolution of reproductive complexity. However, the physiological and genetic
changes facilitating male pregnancy are largely unknown. We used transcriptome
profiling to examine pouch gene expression at successive gestational stages in a
syngnathid with the most complex brood pouch morphology, the seahorse
Hippocampus abdominalis. Using a unique time-calibrated RNA-seq data set including
brood pouch at key stages of embryonic development, we identified transcriptional
changes associated with brood pouch remodeling, nutrient and waste transport, gas
exchange, osmoregulation, and immunological protection of developing embryos at
conception, development and parturition. Key seahorse transcripts share homology
with genes of reproductive function in pregnant mammals, reptiles, and other live-
bearing fish, suggesting a common toolkit of genes regulating pregnancy in divergent
evolutionary lineages.
Seahorse and Pipefish
birth
Seahorse and Pipefish
birth
Brood Pouch
Critique
The journal article, taken as a whole basically includes the essential
attributes of a good journal article. The title as well as the opening sentence
adequately prepares the reader of what the article is all about and what to
expect from it.

Noticeably however, while the authors objective to inform has been greatly
achieved, much is still left to be desired, leaving the reader wanting for more.
Owing perhaps to the brevity of the article, a more in-depth and scholarly
discussion of the points presented was missed out. For example, in
proposing that common genes exists between syngnathid fishes and
vertebrates, the authors could have developed the proposal by pointing out
the specific traits present in both the two species, rather than sound
apologetic for not being able to do so, by covering up the inadequacy by
suggesting that the information necessary to prove it is largely unknown.

All in all, it can be safely said that the journal article is well written even
though some points were missed out.
Bedana, Joe Angelo A.

End of presentation.