title: Lampreys as Diverse Model Organisms in the Genomics Era.
abstract: Lampreys, one of the two surviving groups of ancient vertebrates, have become important models for study in diverse fields of biology. Lampreys (of which there are approximately 40 species) are being studied, for example, (a) to control pest sea lamprey in the North American Great Lakes and to restore declining populations of native species elsewhere; (b) in biomedical research, focusing particularly on the regenerative capability of lampreys; and (c) by developmental biologists studying the evolution of key vertebrate characters. Although a lack of genetic resources has hindered research on the mechanisms regulating many aspects of lamprey life history and development, formerly intractable questions are now amenable to investigation following the recent publication of the sea lamprey genome. Here, we provide an overview of the ways in which genomic tools are currently being deployed to tackle diverse research questions and suggest several areas that may benefit from the availability of the sea lamprey genome.
authors.affiliation: David W. McCauley ( dwmccauley@ou.edu ) is affiliated with the Department of Biology at the University of Oklahoma, in Norman. Margaret F. Docker and Steve Whyard are affiliated with the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Manitoba, in Winnipeg, Canada. Weiming Li is affiliated with the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at Michigan State University, in East Lansing.
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: McCauley
authors.affiliation: David W. McCauley ( dwmccauley@ou.edu ) is affiliated with the Department of Biology at the University of Oklahoma, in Norman. Margaret F. Docker and Steve Whyard are affiliated with the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Manitoba, in Winnipeg, Canada. Weiming Li is affiliated with the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at Michigan State University, in East Lansing.
authors.forename: Margaret F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Docker
authors.affiliation: David W. McCauley ( dwmccauley@ou.edu ) is affiliated with the Department of Biology at the University of Oklahoma, in Norman. Margaret F. Docker and Steve Whyard are affiliated with the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Manitoba, in Winnipeg, Canada. Weiming Li is affiliated with the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at Michigan State University, in East Lansing.
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Whyard
authors.affiliation: David W. McCauley ( dwmccauley@ou.edu ) is affiliated with the Department of Biology at the University of Oklahoma, in Norman. Margaret F. Docker and Steve Whyard are affiliated with the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Manitoba, in Winnipeg, Canada. Weiming Li is affiliated with the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at Michigan State University, in East Lansing.
authors.forename: Weiming
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
keywords: control; evolution; genomics; lamprey; molecular mechanisms