Journal article
Embryology of the fat-tailed dunnart (Sminthopsis crassicaudata): A marsupial model for comparative mammalian developmental and evolutionary biology
Axel H Newton, Jennifer C Hutchison, Ella R Farley, Emily L Scicluna, Neil A Youngson, Jun Liu, Brandon R Menzies, Thomas B Hildebrandt, Ben M Lawrence, Angus HW Sutherland, David L Potter, Gerard A Tarulli, Lynne Selwood, Stephen Frankenberg, Sara Ord, Andrew J Pask
Developmental Dynamics | Wiley | Published : 2024
DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.711
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Marsupials are a diverse and unique group of mammals, but remain underutilized in developmental biology studies, hindering our understanding of mammalian diversity. This study focuses on establishing the fat-tailed dunnart (Sminthopsis crassicaudata) as an emerging laboratory model, providing reproductive monitoring methods and a detailed atlas of its embryonic development. RESULTS: We monitored the reproductive cycles of female dunnarts and established methods to confirm pregnancy and generate timed embryos. With this, we characterized dunnart embryo development from cleavage to birth, and provided detailed descriptions of its organogenesis and heterochronic growth patterns. D..
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Funding Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank The School of BioSciences (University of Melbourne) animal facility staff for the daily management of the Dunnart colony, particularly Shiralee Whitehead, Tania Long, and Eva Suric. We acknowledge that this research was conducted on the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong peoples of the Kulin Nations and we pay respect to their elders: past, present, and emerging. Open access publishing facilitated by The University of Melbourne, as part of the Wiley - The University of Melbourne agreement via the Council of Australian University Librarians.