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Species (common/scientific names): parchment worm, innkeeper worm/Chaetopterus sp.
Discipline(s): Cell Biology, Developmental Biology |
William R. Eckberg* and Susan D. Hill**
The Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, *Department of Biology, Howard University, Washington, DC 20059, **Department of Zoology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
Abstract:
The marine polychaete Chaetopterus provides unique opportunities for the study of several aspects of cellular and developmental biology. Its oocytes arrest at metaphase after the initiation of meiotic maturation, and thus the phase transition from G2 to M can be studied independent of other cell cycle events. Gamete interactions involve morphologically identifiable structures on the eggs, making this a good system for the analysis of gamete receptors in fertilization. In addition, the eggs of this polychaete can undergo differentiation without cleavage, so the role of egg organization and reorganization in development is easily addressed. Because certain isolated segments of Chaetopterus, unlike those of many other polychaetes, can regenerate a complete set of anterior as well as posterior segments, these worms also provide a particularly powerful system in which to study epimorphic regeneration.
Citation:
Eckberg, W.R. and S.D. Hill. Aug. 9, 1996. Chaetopterus - oocyte maturation, early development, and regeneration. Mar. Mod. Elec. Rec. [serial online; cited {fill in: month, day, year}]. Available from http://www.mbl.edu/Biological.Bulletin/mmer.html