Skeletal stem cells in bone development,homeostasis, and disease

Tissue-resident stem cells are essential for development and repair, and in the skeleton, this function is fulfilled by recently identified skeletal stem cells (SSCs). However, recent work has identified that SSCs are not monolithic, with long bones, craniofacial sites, and the spine being formed by distinct stem cells. Recent studies have utilized techniques such as fluorescence-activated cell sorting, lineage tracing, and single-cell sequencing to investigate the involvement of SSCs in bone development, homeostasis, and disease. These investigations have allowed researchers to map the lineage commitment trajectory of SSCs in different parts of the body and at different time points. Furthermore, recent studies have shed light on the characteristics of SSCs in both physiological and pathological conditions. This review focuses on discussing the spatiotemporal distribution of SSCs and enhancing our understanding of the diversity and plasticity of SSCs by summarizing recent discoveries.     

The fitness threshold model: Random environmental change alters adaptive landscapes

We used a probabilistic optimization model to explore the joint evolutionary effects of random phenotypic and environmental variation. Two forms of environmental noise were defined in which the optimal phenotype remained constant but all organisms experienced either the same proportionate or the same absolute fitness gains and losses. There was no evolutionary effect of proportionate fitness fluctuations. In contrast, the optimal genotype varied with absolute fitness fluctuations, despite the environmental effect being phenotype-independent. We refer to such phenotype-independent fluctuation in absolute fitness as the fitness threshold model, because shared fitness effects determine the zero-fitness points (i.e. the baseline) on an intrinsic fitness function. Thus, environmental effects that are unrelated to a focal trait can cause peak shifts in the genetic optimum for the trait. Changes in the fitness threshold not only changed peak locations, but also altered the slopes defining the peaks, and so should alter the rate of evolution towards optima. This model pertains to evolution in any system, unless there is no phenotypic or environmental variance, or the selection function and distribution of phenotypic error assume similar shapes. Our results have many basic and applied implications for topics such as the maintenance of genetic variation, the canalization of development and the management of natural populations.     

Locomotor behavior and muscular anatomy of sympatric Malaysian leaf-monkeys (Presbytis obscura and Presbytis melalophos).

Sympatric Malaysian leaf-monkeys, Presbytis obscura and Presbytis melalophos show quantitative differences in their use of different locomotor patterns during daily activities. P. obscura primarily moves quadrupedally along large boughs; P. melalophos relies more on leaping between smaller supports. P. melalophos also uses forelimb suspension more than does P. obscura. Comparison of the muscular anatomy of the shoulder, arm, trunk, hip and thigh show numerous statistically significant differences between the two species in relative mass of individual muscles and in details of muscular origin and insertion. In almost all instances these differences accord with the types of differences in muscular anatomy predictable from either biomechanical analyses of locomotor behavior or comparative anatomical studies of other mammalian species.     

Forelimb anatomy of New World monkeys: myology and the interpretation of primitive anthropoid models

The forelimbs of 12 genera of New World monkeys, two genera of Old World monkeys, and a gibbon were dissected. Of the 54 muscles examined, 19 exhibited significant intergeneric variation. We present arguments for which morphologies are primitive and which are derived within platyrrhines and within anthropoids. We conclude that the forelimbs of Cebus apella and Callicebus moloch represent good models of the ancestral anthropoid morphology. Thus among living anthropoids they are most appropriate for comparisons with early fossil anthropoids. They are also useful for determining whether myological anomalies of human aneuploids are atavistic. Wagner tree analyses were conducted to assess the value of these myological characters in phylogenetic studies of platyrrhines. In most respects the Wagner trees were consonant with phylogenies previously proposed, although some hypothesized trees are less parsimonious than others in explaining our data. There is an unexpected number of derived features shared by Aotus and the Atelines. There are marked dissimilarities in forelimb musculature between Aotus and Callicebus.     

Phylogenetic relationships of the stromateoid fishes (Perciformes)

The phylogenetic relationships of all 16 genera (plus Psenes pellucidus) of the suborder Stromateoidei were estimated cladistically based on 43 osteological, myological, and external characters. Thirty equally parsimonious trees were obtained. Based on the strict consensus tree, Centrolophidae was nonmonophyletic, Psenopsis being placed as a sister group of a clade comprising Amarsipus, Ariomma, nomeids, Tetragonurus, and stromateids. Schedophilus formed a sister group relationship with Seriolella. The relationships among the Centrolophus, Hyperoglyphe, Icichthys, Tubbia, Schedophilus+Seriolella clade, and Psenopsis+Amarsipus+Ariomma+nomeids+Tetragonurus+stromateids clade were unresolved. Amarsipus, which is unique within the suborder in lacking a pharyngeal sac, was nested within the stromateoid clade, being a sister group of the clade including Ariomma, nomeids, Tetragonurus, and stromateids. The absence of a pharyngeal sac in Amarsipus was interpreted as a reversal, its presence in the Stromateoidei therefore being considered as a synapomorphy. Ariomma was placed as the sister group of a clade comprising nomeids, Tetragonurus, and stromateids. Monophyly of the Nomeidae and Stromateidae were supported by 2 and 11 synapomorphies, respectively.     

Comparative study of musculature in goldon monkey (Rhinopithecus)

Some differences between the muscular system of three species of golden monkeys were shown. The major features of the myology in these animals, besides that ofCercopithecoidea, are similar to the anthropoid apes and humans. Although most of the features between taxa of golden monkeys are largely homologous, there are also some differences. Our results differ slightly from thosePatterson (1942) obtained inR. roxellanae. Some conclusions reported by Patterson were obviously incorrect, since the specimen he used did not have a head. Many mylogical characters are similar to other species ofCercopithecoidea while some resemble those of apes. Many are similar to those of the leaf monkey, though some of them show much more development. The golden monkey is more advanced than any other species ofCercopithecoidea. We hypothesize that in terms of the myological characters the golden monkeys seem to occupy a position between the leaf monkeys and the apes.