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Profile - James Dines
James Dines
Contact Information
E-mail: dines@usc.edu
Phone:
(213) 763-3400
Mail Code: 0371
Started at USC: Fall 2007
Education:
2007 ��� present
Graduate Student, Integrative & Evolutionary Biology
University of Southern California, Los Angeles
1985 ��� 1989
B.S., Biology
Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles
Faculty Advisor(s):
Dr. Xiaoming Wang, Natural History Museum
Collaboration(s):
Dr. Jill McNitt-Gray, Kinesiology and Biomedical Engineering
Research Abstract:
The highly reduced structure and function of pelvic bones is a defining characteristic of modern cetaceans (whales and dolphins).�� The loss of external hind limbs in this group can be traced in the fossil record from about 55 million years ago, when the terrestrial ancestors of modern cetaceans first took to the water.�� Pelvic reduction occurs in several other diverse vertebrate groups: snakes, manatees and stickleback fish.�� Atavistic individuals are occasionally observed in all of the above taxa.�� We propose taking an integrative approach to exploring pelvic reduction in Cetacea, including morphometrics as a proxy for examining molecular control, as well as incorporating aspects of paleontology, computer modeling, embryological studies, and possibly computational biology. Morphometric data collected to date shows a bilateral bias, suggesting that homeobox genes analogous to Pit-X1 found in sticklebacks controls the attenuated development of cetacean pelvics.�� Future paleontological studies will be conducted under the advisement of Dr. Xiaoming Wang and other researchers at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.�� Modeling will be in collaboration with Dr. Jill McNitt-Gray, Integrative and Evolutionary Biology, USC.�� Collaboration relationships with USC faculty having expertise in developmental biology and computational biology will also be explored.
CV: Click to view