The arm of the starfish: The far-reaching applications of Patiria miniata as a model system in evolutionary, developmental, and regenerative biology.

Abstract

Many species of echinoderms have long been considered model research organisms in biology. Historically, much of this research has focused on the embryology of sea urchins and the use of their extensive gene regulatory networks as a tool to understand how the genome controls cell state specification and patterning. The establishment of Patiria miniata, the bat sea star, as a research organism has allowed us to expand on the concepts explored with sea urchins, viewing these genetic networks through a comparative lens, gaining great insight into the evolutionary mechanisms that shape developmental diversity. Extensive molecular tools have been developed in P. miniata, designed to explore gene expression dynamics and build gene regulatory networks. Echinoderms also have a robust set of bioinformatic and computational resources, centered around echinobase.org, an extensive database containing multiomic, developmental, and experimental resources for researchers. In addition to comparative evolutionary development, P. miniata is a promising system in its own right for studying whole body regeneration, metamorphosis and body plan development, as well as marine disease.