Scientists from the University of Plymouth’s EmbryoPhenomics Research Group have made a significant breakthrough in the study of species evolution. Using robotic video microscopes and computer vision, the researchers were able to measure the observable characteristics of embryos from three different species. By recording these measurements as spectra of energy, they were able to compare shifts between species and identify differences in the timing of developmental events. The study’s authors discovered that these timing differences are associated with broader changes to an embryo’s observable characteristics. The research has the potential to advance the study of development and evolution by enabling deeper assessments of biological development and the ability to combine data across various species.
This breakthrough is particularly important as environmental changes, such as climate change, are having a harmful impact on the natural world. The researchers used timelapse videos of embryos to capture complex differences in how species grow and develop. The video data was converted into frequency data, allowing the scientists to track various aspects of the animal’s biology as it develops. This approach provides a more comprehensive understanding of the animal’s traits and biological response.
The study builds on almost 20 years of pioneering work in developmental biology. The researchers previously documented changes in the timing of developmental events between species of freshwater snail. The application of Energy Proxy Traits (EPTs) in this study aimed to understand whether these timing differences are associated with multidimensional changes to the phenotype. The research has broader implications for advancing our understanding of the relationship between biological development and evolution and offers a new technology-enabled approach to monitoring the development of lifeforms across the world.
