Melainia L. McClain

Epiblast Lumenogenesis is not a mammalian-specific trait

The paper shows that epiblast lumenogenesis occurs in veiled chameleons, a non-avian reptile, before anterior-posterior patterning, challenging the view that it is a mammalian-specific trait.

Nucleolar Dynamics During Oogenesis

This study investigates nucleolar changes during zebrafish oogenesis and finds similar patterns in mouse oocytes, suggesting conserved nucleolar remodeling for translational adaptation.

Oogenesis and germinal bed morphology of the brown anole (A. sagrei)

The paper describes 10 stages of oogenesis in the brown anole, showing conservation within iguanids and providing a framework for functional studies and gene-editing.

A new genetically tractable non-vertebrate system to study complete camera-type eye regeneration

This paper identifies the apple snail Pomacea canaliculata as a new model for studying camera-type eye regeneration, showing its ability to regenerate complete eyes and the role of pax6 in eye development.

Pre-oviposition development of the brown anole (Anolis sagrei)

This study defines 26 developmental stages of pre-oviposition development in the brown anole, revealing divergence from chicken embryogenesis and providing insights into organ system morphogenesis.

Morphological changes and two Nodal paralogs drive left-right asymmetry in the squamate veiled chameleon (C. calyptratus).

This study shows veiled chameleon embryos lack motile cilia in the L-R organizer and express two Nodal paralogs, revealing a novel mechanism for left-right asymmetry evolution.

Molecular characterization of a flatworm Girardia isolate from Guanajuato, Mexico

This paper characterizes a new planarian isolate, Girardia sp. (Guanajuato), at morphological, cellular, and molecular levels to identify unique traits and facilitate future comparisons.

The Planarian Anatomy Ontology: A resource to connect data within and across experimental platforms

The paper constructs a planarian anatomy ontology to standardize nomenclature and enable cross-platform data integration and curation.

Adaptive cell invasion maintains organ homeostasis

The paper identifies invasive skin-derived cells in zebrafish lateral line that differentiate into ionocytes, adapting to environmental ionic changes and regulating hair cell function.