Assessment of the configuration of the posterior cells of the nematode embryo as potential phylogenetic marker

Abstract

We have reconstructed the evolutionary history of an early developmental character by mapping the configuration of the posterior cells in the early embryo onto the SSU-based molecular phylogeny of Holterman (2006). We have analyzed the early embryonic development of 19 species, complemented with 20 species from the literature, covering representatives in each clade. We show that the Caenorhabditis elegans configuration, found in most species in clade III-X, is the ancestral state for these clades. alternative configurations arose inependently in clade IX, (Diploscapter coronatus), X (Halicephalobus gingivalis), XI (all investigated species) and XII (Meloidogyne incognita). A variable configuration of the posterior cells arose at least twice independently during nematode evolution, once in clade IX (D. coronatus) and once in an ancestor, shared by clade XI and XII and thus can be used as a phylogenetic marker to delineate these clades. Statistical tests based on our data-set show that the presence of a variable configuration is related to developmental tempo and egg shape.