Project description
Understanding sharks’ evolutionary innovation of calcified cartilage
Sharks are unique among other vertebrates as their internal skeleton is made entirely of cartilage. The presence of bone in the last common ancestor to sharks and other vertebrates reveals that calcified cartilage in sharks is an evolutionary innovation. Unfortunately, this skeletal tissue and its evolution are poorly understood. Scientists do not yet understand the mechanisms behind cartilage calcification, whether it is related to bone, or if the cartilage in sharks is comparable to that in other vertebrates. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the MOSAIC project aims to address these gaps by using cutting-edge scanning methods to examine the 3D histology of calcified cartilage in a wide range of living and fossil sharks.
Objective
Shark’s and their relatives are distinctly unique compared to other vertebrates (including humans); they have an internal skeleton made entirely out of cartilage. It was presumed that cartilage was the ancestral condition among vertebrates based on the assumption that evolution would be driven toward the increased complexity of bone. However, recent fossil evidence disproves this assumption and reveals that the skeletal mineralisation shown in sharks (calcified cartilage) is an evolutionary innovation. Our understanding of calcified cartilage in sharks greatly lags behind that of the hard tissues in other vertebrates. Thus, the mechanisms behind cartilage calcification, how or whether this relates to bone, and our overall understanding of how hard tissues evolved in vertebrates is impacted. In this project, I will address this knowledge gap by examining the 3D histology of calcified cartilage in a wide range of both living and fossil sharks, using cutting-edge scanning methods. This holistic approach will cover 400 million years of cartilage evolution in sharks. The results of this project will be of importance across multiple scientific fields: advancing our understanding of the evolution of hard tissues in vertebrates, detailed 3D information on structural properties of calcified cartilage relevant to material engineering, and insight into calcification mechanisms relevant to medical research on cartilage disorders in humans. Naturalis is the perfect setting to conduct this research due to the vast collection of preserved sharks available for study, expertise in hard tissue histology, and active collaborations with medical researchers on cartilage disorders. It also offers a valuable platform for public outreach and skills training, such as in management and science communication. This project will provide a crucial stepping stone towards my aspiration to spearhead a research team focused on bridging research of both fossil and living animals.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2023-PF-01
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2333 CR Leiden
Netherlands
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