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Manipulation of Developmental Function in Turtles with Notes on Alligators

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Vertebrate Embryogenesis

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1920))

Abstract

Reptiles have great taxonomic diversity that is reflected in their morphology, ecology, physiology, modes of reproduction, and development. Interest in comparative and evolutionary developmental biology makes protocols for the study of reptile embryos invaluable resources. The relatively large size, seasonal breeding, and long gestation times of turtles epitomize the challenges faced by the developmental biologist. We describe protocols for the preparation of turtle embryos for ex ovo culture, electroporation, in situ hybridization, and microcomputed tomography. Because these protocols have been adapted and optimized from methods used for frog, chick, and mouse embryos, it is likely that they could be used for other reptilian species. Notes are included for alligator embryos where appropriate.

Original data underlying this manuscript can be accessed from the Stowers Original Data Repository at http://www.stowers.org/research/publications/libpb-1396

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Change history

  • 10 July 2019

    The author added a sentence to this chapter. The text has been added to the chapter opening page.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Academy of Finland (JEM-V), Stowers Institute for Medical Research (RM, PMK), and NSF grant IOS-145177 (JACT). We are grateful to Kevin Padian, Richard Harland, Marvalee Wake, Scott Gilbert, Concordia Turtle Farm, Kliebert’s Turtle & Alligator Farm, and Ruth M. Elsey and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

    Jacqueline E. Moustakas-Verho

  2. Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

    Jacqueline E. Moustakas-Verho

  3. Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO, USA

    Rebecca McLennan, Jennifer Spengler & Paul M. Kulesa

  4. Biology Department, Millersville University, Millersville, PA, USA

    Jennifer Spengler & Judith A. Cebra-Thomas

  5. Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, KS, USA

    Paul M. Kulesa

Authors
  1. Jacqueline E. Moustakas-Verho
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  2. Rebecca McLennan
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  3. Jennifer Spengler
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  4. Paul M. Kulesa
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  5. Judith A. Cebra-Thomas
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Genetics, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI, USA

    Francisco J. Pelegri

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Moustakas-Verho, J.E., McLennan, R., Spengler, J., Kulesa, P.M., Cebra-Thomas, J.A. (2019). Manipulation of Developmental Function in Turtles with Notes on Alligators. In: Pelegri, F. (eds) Vertebrate Embryogenesis. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1920. Humana, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-9009-2_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-9009-2_14

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Humana, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-9008-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-9009-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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