Professor in Evolutionary Developmental Biology
Head of The Centre for Evolutionary and Functional Genomics
EvoDevo, Animal embryology, Evolutionary biology, Comparative genomics, Epigenomics
Publications of specific relevance to the Centre for Evolutionary and Functional Genomics
Cell fate specification modes shape transcriptome evolution in the highly conserved spiral cleavageChromosome-scale genome assembly and gene annotation of the hydrothermal vent annelid Alvinella pompejana yield insight into animal evolution in extreme environmentsThe genomic origin of the unique chaetognath body planThe chromosomal genome sequence of the fan worm Protula sp. (Serpulidae, Sabellida)A dynamic histone-based chromatin regulatory toolkit underpins genome and developmental evolution in an invertebrate cladeThe chromosomal genome sequence of the marine leech, Branchellion lobata Moore, 1952 and its associated microbial metagenome sequencesFundamental questions in meiofauna research highlight how small but ubiquitous animals can improve our understanding of NaturePreservation and early evolution of scalidophoran ventral nerve cordChromosome-level genome assembly and methylome profile yield insights for the conservation of endangered loggerhead sea turtlesDevelopmental system drift in dorsoventral patterning is linked to transitions to autonomous development in AnnelidaCombinatorial Wnt signaling landscape during brachiopod anteroposterior patterningDNA Methylation Carries Signatures of Sublethal Effects Under Thermal Stress in Loggerhead Sea TurtlesAnnelid methylomes reveal ancestral developmental and aging-associated epigenetic erosion across BilateriaThe Aquatic Symbiosis Genomics Project: probing the evolution of symbiosis across the Tree of LifeDevelopmental toxicity of pre-production plastic pellets affects a large swathe of invertebrate taxaThe development of the adult nervous system in the annelid Owenia fusiformisEmerging trends in functional genomics in SpiraliaEmerging trends in the study of spiralian larvaeFunctional genomics in SpiraliaGenomics of Marine Larval Evolution and DevelopmentA dynamic epibiont community associated with the bone-eating polychaete genus OsedaxDistinct genomic routes underlie transitions to specialised symbiotic lifestyles in deep-sea annelid wormsThe Evolution of Hox Genes in SpiraliaAnnelid functional genomics reveal the origins of bilaterian life cyclesThe Fox Gene Repertoire in the Annelid Owenia fusiformis Reveals Multiple Expansions of the foxQ2 Class in SpiraliaThe Aquatic Symbiosis Genomics Project: probing the evolution of symbiosis across the tree of lifeEarly embryogenesis and organogenesis in the annelid Owenia fusiformisPublisher Correction: Conservative route to genome compaction in a miniature annelid (Nature Ecology & Evolution, (2020), 10.1038/s41559-020-01327-6)Conservative route to genome compaction in a miniature annelidUnravelling spiral cleavageKinetochores attached to microtubule-ends are stabilised by astrin bound pp1 to ensure proper chromosome segregationA developmental perspective on the evolution of the nervous system.EvoChromo: towards a synthesis of chromatin biology and evolution.Embryonic expression of priapulid Wnt genesIntroduction: Young Approaches to Animal EvolutionPlanMine 3.0—improvements to a mineable resource of flatworm biology and biodiversityGeneral Principles of Planarian Embryogenesis and Its Analysis by In Situ Hybridization and Immunohistochemistry MethodsConvergent evolution of bilaterian nerve cordsCleavage modification did not alter blastomere fates during bryozoan evolution.Increased taxon sampling reveals thousands of hidden orthologs in flatworms.Clustered brachiopod Hox genes are not expressed collinearly and are associated with lophotrochozoan noveltiesThe developmental basis for the recurrent evolution of deuterostomy and protostomy.Embryonic chirality and the evolution of spiralian left-right asymmetries.Localization of planarian β-CATENIN-1 reveals multiple roles during anterior-posterior regeneration and organogenesisMolecular regionalization in the compact brain of the meiofaunal annelid Dinophilus gyrociliatus (Dinophilidae).Evolution of the EGFR pathway in Metazoa and its diversification in the planarian Schmidtea mediterranea.The larval nervous system of the penis worm Priapulus caudatus (Ecdysozoa).Evolution and development of the adelphophagic, intracapsular Schmidt’s larva of the nemertean Lineus ruberGetting to the bottom of anal evolutionThe study of Priapulus caudatus reveals conserved molecular patterning underlying different gut morphogenesis in the EcdysozoaPlatyhelminthesEvolution, divergence and loss of the Nodal signalling pathway: new data and a synthesis across the BilateriaEvolution of protostomy in the BrachiopodaA Broad Genomic Survey Reveals Multiple Origins and Frequent Losses in the Evolution of Respiratory Hemerythrins and HemocyaninsDeuterostomic Development in the Protostome Priapulus caudatusMorphological and molecular development of the eyes during embryogenesis of the freshwater planarian Schmidtea polychroaDevelopmental diversity in free-living flatwormsPlanarian embryology in the era of comparative developmental biologyStepwise assembly of the Nova-regulated alternative splicing network in the vertebrate brainEvolutionary implications of morphogenesis and molecular patterning of the blind gut in the planarian Schmidtea polychroaGerm layer specification and axial patterning in the embryonic development of the freshwater planarian Schmidtea polychroaNew method to deliver exogenous material into developing planarian embryosChromosome-level genome assembly and methylome profile enables insights for the conservation of endangered loggerhead sea turtlesThe evolution and developmental dynamics of histone-based chromatin regulation in AnnelidaCell fate specification modes shape transcriptome evolution in the highly conserved spiral cleavageDevelopmental system drift in dorsoventral patterning is linked to transitions to autonomous development in AnnelidaMetabolic plasticity supports a flexible nutritional symbiosis in Cardiocondyla antsA chromosome-level assembly and functional genomic resources for the model annelid Capitella teletaAnnelid functional genomics reveal the origins of bilaterian life cyclesEarly Embryogenesis and Organogenesis in the Annelid Owenia FusiformisEarly embryogenesis and organogenesis in the annelid Owenia fusiformisConservative route to genome compaction in a miniature annelidThe Fox gene repertoire in the annelid Owenia fusiformis reveals multiple expansions of the foxQ2 class in SpiraliaCleavage modification did not alter early blastomere fates during bryozoan evolutionBrachiopods possess a split Hox cluster with signs of spatial, but not temporal collinearityIncreased taxon sampling reveals thousands of hidden orthologs in flatwormsERK1/2 is an ancestral organising signal in spiral cleavageThe hologenome of Osedax frankpressi reveals the genetic interplay for the symbiotic digestion of vertebrate boneDistinct genomic routes underlie transitions to specialised symbiotic lifestyles in deep sea annelid wormsA dynamic Campylobacterales epibiont community associated with the bone eating worm OsedaxA dynamic epibiont community associated with the bone eating worm OsedaxCombinatorial Wnt signaling landscape during brachiopod anteroposterior patterningDNA methylation carries signatures of sublethal effects under thermal stress in loggerhead sea turtlesThe development of the adult nervous system in the annelid Owenia fusiformisAnnelid methylomes reveal ancestral developmental and ageing-associated epigenetic erosion across BilateriaDevelopmental toxicity of pre-production plastic pellets affects a large swathe of invertebrate taxaChromosome-scale genome assembly and gene annotation of the hydrothermal vent annelid Alvinella pompejana yield insight into animal evolution in extreme environmentsGrants of specific relevance to the Centre for Evolutionary and Functional GenomicsEvolutionary biophysics of spiralian asymmetric divisionsThe evolution of developmental system drift in axial specification in SpiraliaHeads or tails? The evolution of trunk growth heterochronies in animal larvaeHighthroughput Light Sheet Microscopy: Imaging Across ScalesA confocal microscope for multidisciplinary dynamic studies of complex biological systemsKTP Project with Zeiss- Generalisation of SpinX software (Deep Learning based system and 3D modellingUK-China partnership: Chromosomal Instability aiding Genetic Variants (CIVa) linked to human ageingLIDo Research Experience Placement: Spatial and temporal dynamics of mRNAs and proteins driving spiral cleavage in annelids - Research ESuper-Resolution Microscopy of live cells in 3DA high-throughput platform for assembling genome data: the SaphyrUntangling the genomic basis of bacterial symbiosis in gutless wormsEvolution of cell-fate specification modes in spiral developmentUnravelling the origin of the feeding ciliary bands in annelid wormsAn international group of researchers lead by Dr Piovani and Dr Marlétaz at UCL, in collaboration with Dr de Mendoza and Dr Martin-Duran from QMUL, has generated the first chromosome-level genome assembly for a chaetognath (arrow worm), an enigmatic animal group. Combining multiple functional genomic approaches, the researchers identified ... [more]
