NSF Org:	IOS Division Of Integrative Organismal Systems
Recipient:	UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO
Initial Amendment Date:	December 5, 2000
Latest Amendment Date:	December 5, 2000
Award Number:	0095015
Award Instrument:	Standard Grant
Program Manager:	William E. Zamer IOS  Division Of Integrative Organismal Systems BIO  Directorate for Biological Sciences
Start Date:	December 15, 2000
End Date:	November 30, 2001 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount:	$6,000.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date:	$6,000.00
Funds Obligated to Date:	FY 2001 = $6,000.00
History of Investigator:	Eduardo Rosa-Molinar (Principal Investigator) erm@ku.edu
Recipient Sponsored Research Office:	University of Puerto Rico 1187 CALLE FLAMBOYAN SAN JUAN PR  US  00926-1108 (787)250-0000
Sponsor Congressional District:	00
Primary Place of Performance:	University of Puerto Rico 1187 CALLE FLAMBOYAN SAN JUAN PR  US  00926-1108
Primary Place of Performance Congressional District:	00
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI):	LLABHNB9ABM4
Parent UEI:
NSF Program(s):	Animal Developmental Mechanism, ECOLOGICAL & EVOLUTIONARY PHYS
Primary Program Source:	01000102DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
Program Reference Code(s):	9169, EGCH
Program Element Code(s):	111900, 114800
Award Agency Code:	4900
Fund Agency Code:	4900
Assistance Listing Number(s):	47.074

ABSTRACT

Researchers studying evolution and development consider questions regarding the origins, development, and transitions of fins to limbs, digits and external reproductive structures to be one of the fundamental issues in their discipline. Although there are several theories regarding these issues in the transition of paired fins (pectoral) to fore limbs and paired fins (pelvic) to hind limbs, there are no theories regarding the transition of the median unpaired fin (anal) to external reproductive structures. However, the body of research on paired fins to limb transitions in a variety of biological systems is sufficient enough that investigators should begin to synthesize what is known about the transitions of paired fins and extend that knowledge to the transition of the median unpaired fin to external reproductive structures.

A symposium entitled "Starting from Fins: Parallelism in the Evolution of Limbs and External Reproductive Structures" held at the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology Conference in January 2001 will provide a forum for a group of scientists whose work focuses on the evolutionary, developmental, physiological, and phylogenetic parallelism between fins, limbs, digits and external reproductive structures. Speakers will address issues of parallelism in development (i.e., the occurrence of analogous anatomical structures, genes, and developmental programs that present striking similarity of appearance). They will address issues in serial homology (the repetition of morphologically identical segments and genes within individuals). Finally, they will address changes in genes, anatomical structures, and developmental programs that may be linked to changes in function and habitat during an individual life history. The overall objectives of this symposium are to 1) elucidate common evolutionary mechanisms in the development of fins, limbs and external reproductive structures and 2) provide presenters and participants an opportunity to begin a dialog on "big picture questions" regarding parallelism, serial homology, and transitions.

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