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Cited by 200Morphological variations and asymmetryCraniofacial Disorders and TreatmentsAnimal Behavior and Reproduction

Epigenetic interactions and the structure of phenotypic variation in the cranium

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Hallgrímsson, B., Lieberman, D.E., Liu, W., Ford‐Hutchinson, A.F., Jirik, F.R.·2007·Evolution & Development
DOI 10.1111/j.1525-142x.2006.00139.x
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Abstract

Understanding the developmental and genetic basis for evolutionarily significant morphological variation in complex phenotypes such as the mammalian skull is a challenge because of the sheer complexity of the factors involved. We hypothesize that even in this complex system, the expression of phenotypic variation is structured by the interaction of a few key developmental processes. To test this hypothesis, we created a highly variable sample of crania using four mouse mutants and their wild-type controls from similar genetic backgrounds with developmental perturbations to particular cranial regions. Using geometric morphometric methods we compared patterns of size, shape, and integration in the sample within and between the basicranium, neurocranium, and face. The results highlight regular and predictable patterns of covariation among regions of the skull that presumably reflect the epigenetic influences of the genetic perturbations in the sample. Covariation between relative widths of adjoining regions is the most dominant factor, but there are other significant axes of covariation such as the relationship between neurocranial size and basicranial flexion. Although there are other sources of variation related to developmental perturbations not analyzed in this study, the patterns of covariation created by the epigenetic interactions evident in this sample may underlie larger scale evolutionary patterns in mammalian craniofacial form.

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  • Patterns of covariation and correlation between different parts of the cranium are partially independent, suggesting they behave as partially independent units.

    “In fact, different studies have shown that the patterns of covariation and correlation between different parts of the cranium are partially independent, thus suggesting that they behave as partially independent units [15,39–42].”

    From Morphological consequences of artificial cranial deformation: Modularity and integration (2020) · cites this paper as [41]

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Authors
Hallgrímsson, B., Lieberman, D. E., Liu, W., Ford‐Hutchinson, A. F., & Jirik, F. R.
Affiliations
  • University of Calgary (CA)
  • Harvard University (US)
Corresponding author
Hallgrímsson, B.
ORCID
Venue
Evolution & Development
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2007-01
Volume
9
Issue
1
Pages
76-91
ISSN
  • 1520-541X (ISSN-L)
  • 1525-142X
DOI
10.1111/j.1525-142x.2006.00139.x
OpenAlex
W2111806313
Cited by
200
References
51
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 14 · 2012: 10
FWCI
20.77
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Evolution & Development (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Digital Access to Scholarship at Harvard (DASH) (Harvard University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Mathematics › Geometry and Topology › Morphological variations and asymmetry
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Craniofacial Disorders and Treatments
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Animal Behavior and Reproduction
Keywords
skull morphology, phenotypic covariation, epigenetic interactions, mouse mutants, skull development, basicranium, neurocranium, facial morphology, craniofacial evolution, morphological integration
MeSH terms
Animals, Base Sequence, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Mice, Mutant Strains, Phenotype, Skull, DNA Primers, Epigenesis, Genetic, Mice

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