Development and evolution of vertebrates and the role of developmental mechanisms in the evolution of morphology.
Burke Lab Homepage:http://burkelab.research.wesleyan.edu/
Research Synopsis
I am interested in morphological evolution in vertebrates and the role of developmental processes in that evolution. I use both classical experimental embryology and modern molecular methods to try and understand the developmental mechanisms that result in morphological novelties. This work is primarily comparative, using model systems like the chicken embryo, as well as various reptiles and amphibians that represent morphological variations of the basic tetrapod body plan.
Current Funding:
NIH R03 2009, Amphibian models for bodywall patterning.
NSF 2009, Mesodermal patterning modules in the evolution and development of the tetrapod pectoral girdle.
Selected Publications
Tulenko, F., McCauley, D., MacKenzie, E., Mazan, S., Kuratani, S., Kusakabe, R. and Burke, A.C. (2013) Body wall development in lamprey and a new perspective on the origin of vertebrate paired fins. PNAS 110(29): 11899–11904
Shearman, R.M., Tulenko, F. and Burke, A.C., (2011) 3D Reconstructions Of Quail-Chick Chimeras Provide A New Fate Map Of The Avian Scapula. Developmental Biology 355(1): 1-11
Winslow, B.B. and A.C. Burke (2010) Atypical molecular profile for joint development in the avian costal joint. Developmental Dynamics 239(10):2547-57.
Burke, A.C. (2009) Turtle….Again. A commentary on recent papers on the evodevo of the chelonia. Evolution & Development 11(6):622-4
Reiss, J.O., Burke A.C., et. al (2009) Pere Alberch: Originator of EvoDevo. Biological Theory 3(4): 351-356.
Burke, A.C. (2009) The simple truth plain. A review of Owen’s1848 Discourse, On the Nature of Limbs, with accompanying essays. Edited by Ron Amundson. 2007 University of Chicago Press. Published in Evolution & Development 11: 323-325
Winslow, B.B., Takimoto, R. and Burke, A.C. (2007) Global patterning of the Vertebrate Mesoderm. Developmental Dynamics 236: 2371-2381
Burke, A.C. (2007) Development and Evolution of the Vertebrate Mesderm. Developmental Dynamics 236: 2369–2370
Durland, L., Sferlazzo, M., Logan and Burke, A.C. (2008) Visualizing the lateral somitic frontier in the Mouse using the Prx1Cre transgenic. Journal of Anatomy 212: 590-602.
Gilbert, S.F., Cebra-Thomas, J.A. and Burke, A.C. (2008) How the turtle gets its shell. In. J. Wyneken, M. Godfrey and V. Bels, eds. The Biology of Turtles. CRC Press/Taylor & Francis Group.
Gilland, E. and A.C. Burke (2004) Gastrulation in reptiles. pp. 205- 218. In: Gastrulation, C. Stern, Ed. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, New York
Burke, A.C., and J.L. Nowicki (2003). A new view of patterning domains in the vertebrate mesoderm. Developmental Cell 4(2): 159-165.
Nowicki, J.L., R. Takimoto and A.C. Burke (2003) The Lateral Somitic Frontier: Mapping mesodermal populations in the chick embryo. Mechanisms of Development 120 (2): 227-240.
Burke, A.C and S. Brown (2003) Homeotic genes: Animals. In: Keywords and Concepts in Evolutionary Developmental Biology. B. K. Hall and W.M. Olson, Eds. In Press. Harvard University Press.
Burke A.C., and E. Rosa Molinar (2002) Starting from fins: Parallelism in the evolution of limbs and genitalia. Part two: Fins to limbs. Evolution & Development 4 (5): 375-377.
Burke, A.C. and J. Nowicki (2001) Hox Genes And Axial Specification In Vertebrates. American Zoologist 41: 323-332.
Nowicki, J. and A.C. Burke (2000) Hox genes and morphological identity: axial versus lateral patterning in the vertebrate mesoderm. Development 127: 4265-4275.
Burke, A.C. (2000) Hox genes and the global patterning of the somitic mesoderm. In: Somitogenesis. C. Ordahl (ed.) Current Topics in Developmental Biology, Vol. 47. Academic Press.
Burke, A.C. and A. Feduccia (1997) Developmental patterns and the identification of homologies in the avian hand. Science 278: 666-668.
Burke, A.C. and C. Tabin (1996) Virally mediated misexpression of Hox c-6 in the cervical mesoderm results in spinal nerve truncations. Devel. Bio. 178: 192-197.
Burke, A.C. and C.E. Nelson (1996) Evolutionary transposition and the vertebrate Hox genes: Comparing morphology to gene expression boundaries with in situ hybridization. In: Molecular Zoology: Advances, Strategies and Protocols. J.D. Ferraris and S.R. Palumbi, eds. Wiley-Liss, New York.
Nelson, C.E., B.A. Morgan, A.C. Burke, E. Laufer, L.C. Murtaugh, E. Gonzales, L. Tessarollo, L.F. Parada and C. Tabin (1996) Analysis of Hox gene expression in the chick limb bud. Development 122: 1449-1466.
Burke, A.C., C.E. Nelson, B.A. Morgan and C. Tabin (1995) Hox genes and the evolution of vertebrate axial morphology. Development 212: 333-346.
Burke, A.C. (1991) “Proximal elements in the vertebrate limb; evolutionary and developmental origin of the pectoral girdle”. In: Developmental Patterning of the Vertebrate Limb. Edited by J.R. Hinchliffe, J. Hurle and D. Summerbell. NATO ASI Series A: Life Sciences Vol. 205. Plenum Press, London.
Burke, A.C. (1991) The development and evolution of the turtle body plan. Inferring intrinsic aspects of the evolutionary process from experimental embryology. American Zoologist 31(4): 616-627.
Burke, A.C., and P. Alberch (1985) The development and homologies of the chelonian carpus and tarsus. Journal of Morphology 186: 119-131.
Burke, A.C., E.S. Gaffney, and T. Rich (1983) Miocene turtles from Lake Tarkarooloo. Alcheringa 7: 151-154.
Burke, A.C., M.A. Anderson, A. Weld, and E.S. Gaffney (1983) The reconstruction and casting of a large extinct turtle, Meiolania platyceps. Curator 26: 5-26.
