1988/04/01 by Alessandro Minelli, Stefano Bortoletto · 7 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Agricultural and Biological Sciences · #Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior #Animal Behavior and Reproduction #Genetic diversity and population structure
paper · doi:10.1111/j.1095-8312.1988.tb00448.x
openalex publication_date 1988/04/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/26
Outstanding progress in understanding segmentation of tracheate arthropods (Atelocerata), i.e. Chilopoda, Diplopoda, Pauropoda, Symphyla and Insecta, has been gained through experimental studies carried out on a single, very derivative organism, i.e. Drosophila. We stress the need for a broader comparative approach. We have studied the segmental structure of the trunk in geophilomorph centipedes, where we can identify morphogenetic units of two, four, eight or 16 segments. Accordingly, we sketch an improved model for arthropod segmentation, with the following initial steps: (a) biochemical marking of a very few repetitive units (eosegments); (b) iterative duplications of this first periodicity, until the embryo acquires an array of biochemical markings matching the whole number of segments of the future larva or juvenile specimen; (c) transpatterning, stabilization and interpretation of this ‘segmental’ arrangement; (d) possible repatterning, to give a final repetitive pattern we define as metasegmental. Finally, we express some doubt about the homology between annelid and arthropod segmentation.