Henrike Semmler Le

Postdoc

Natural History Museum of Denmark
Universitetsparken 15
2100 København Ø

Phone: +45 353-21117
Phone (Reception desk): +45 353-21216
E-mail: hsemmler-le@snm.ku.dk

Current research

Neuronal and mesodermal development in the parasitic acanthocephalans

The project will focus on the phylogenetic intriguing and ecological highly relevant parasitic Acanthocephala, a monophyletic taxon within rotifers. The development of the mesoderm and the nervous system will be characterized by applying latest morphological, such as immunocytochemistry in combination with laserscanning microscopy, and molecular tools. The still very rarely used computer aided 4D-microscopy for cell lineage analyses and gene expression on neuronal genes will give new insights in the establishment of a nervous system. This new comparative data will contribute to the understanding of “body plan evolution” in the light of the new phylogeny of Gnathifera (Witek et al., 2009).

Presentation on the Carlsberg Foundation's homepage:

http://www.carlsbergfondet.dk/da/Forskningsomraader/Artikler%20fra%20bevillingshavere/Torskens%20spaendende%20indre%20liv.aspx