Int. J. Dev. Biol. 50: 451 - 454 (2006)

https://doi.org/10.1387/ijdb.062154sk

Vol 50, Issue 5

Evolutionary embryology resurrected in Japan with a new molecular basis: Nori Satoh and the history of ascidian studies originating in Kyoto during the 20th century

Open Access | Special Contribution | Published: 1 April 2006

Shigeru Kuratani*^,1, Hiroshi Wada², Rie Kusakabe¹ And Kiyokazu Agata³

¹Laboratory for Evolutionary Morphology, Center for Developmental Biology (CDB), RIKEN, Kobe, Japan ²Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba and ³Department of Biophysics, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Japan

Abstract

This article briefly summarizes the scientific contributions of Nori Satoh, the winner of the 2005 edition of the Kowalevsky Medal, to Developmental Biology and especially to Evo-Devo with his 30 years of research on tunicates - a primitive chordate species. His research began with his pure developmental interest in the clock mechanism of cell differentiation and later expanded into various aspects of evolutionary and developmental phenomena. He is not only known as a founder of molecular biology-based tunicate studies, but also for his world-wide service to education and his prestigious publications in international scientific journals.

Keywords

Nori Satoh, Kowalevsky Medal, ascidian, developmental biology