title: The genetics of phenotypic plasticity in nematode feeding structures.
abstract: Phenotypic plasticity has been proposed as an ecological and evolutionary concept. Ecologically, it can help study how genes and the environment interact to produce robust phenotypes. Evolutionarily, as a facilitator it might contribute to phenotypic novelty and diversification. However, the discussion of phenotypic plasticity remains contentious in parts due to the absence of model systems and rigorous genetic studies. Here, we summarize recent work on the nematodePristionchus pacificus,which exhibits a feeding plasticity allowing predatory or bacteriovorous feeding. We show feeding plasticity to be controlled by developmental switch genes that are themselves under epigenetic control. Phylogenetic and comparative studies support phenotypic plasticity and its role as a facilitator of morphological novelty and diversity.
authors.affiliation: Department for Integrative Evolutionary Biology, Max-Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Spemannstrasse 37, 72076 Tübingen, Germany ralf.sommer@tuebingen.mpg.de.
authors.forename: Ralf J
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-1503-7749
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Sommer
authors.affiliation: Department for Integrative Evolutionary Biology, Max-Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Spemannstrasse 37, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Mohannad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dardiry
authors.affiliation: Department for Integrative Evolutionary Biology, Max-Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Spemannstrasse 37, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Masa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lenuzzi
authors.affiliation: Department for Integrative Evolutionary Biology, Max-Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Spemannstrasse 37, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Suryesh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Namdeo
authors.affiliation: Department for Integrative Evolutionary Biology, Max-Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Spemannstrasse 37, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Tess
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Renahan
authors.affiliation: Department for Integrative Evolutionary Biology, Max-Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Spemannstrasse 37, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Bogdan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sieriebriennikov
authors.affiliation: Department for Integrative Evolutionary Biology, Max-Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Spemannstrasse 37, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Werner
mesh_terms: D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D004435:Eating; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D009348:Nematoda / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D010641:Phenotype
keywords: Pristionchus pacificus; epigenetics; nuclear hormone receptors; phenotypic plasticity; switch genes