Tardigrades in Edinburgh

We are initiating a new program of research on a captive Tardigrade.

Tardigrades are small animals (less than 1 mm) that show affinities with both arthropods and nematodes. Molecular phylogenetic evidence has suggested that all the moulting animals (arthropods, tardigrades, nematodes and a number of other "minor" phyla) are more closely related to each other than to any other metazoans. This superphylum has been named "Ecdysozoa".

Surprisingly little is currently known about the tardigrades. There is a long history of exquisite detailed morphological study, an abiding interest in some of the more exciting facets of their biology (such as cryptobiosis), and ecological research. We are going to carry out linked

genomics
basic biology
developmental biology
molecular biology

projects on the tardigrade we have in culture to bring this neglected phylum up into the first rank of studied animals.

We have carried out several preliminary studies, and have been awarded a 3-year grant by the BBSRC Comparative Development and Evolution initiative to continue our studies.

Three staff positions are available on the grant.

The text of the application, which describes the basics of our approach is posted here.

Some links on Tardigrades and their biology are listed here..

Monographic publications on Tardigrades are few and far between: Ernest Marcus published 3 volumes in the 1920's. A copy of one of the colour plates from his 1929 work is available here.