Applying x-ray tomography in the field of vertebrate biology: form, function, and evolution of the skull of caecilians (Lissamphibia: Gymnophiona)

Thomas Kleinteich; Felix Beckmann; Julia Herzen; Adam P. Summers; Alexander Haas

doi:10.1117/12.795063

15 September 2008 Applying x-ray tomography in the field of vertebrate biology: form, function, and evolution of the skull of caecilians (Lissamphibia: Gymnophiona)

Thomas Kleinteich, Felix Beckmann, Julia Herzen, Adam P. Summers, Alexander Haas

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 7078, Developments in X-Ray Tomography VI; 70780D (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.795063
Event: Optical Engineering + Applications, 2008, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Evolutionary research in biology relies on the comparison of different individuals of different species in order to explore the history of today's biodiversity. Synchrotron radiation based high resolution X-ray tomography (SRμCT) rapidly generates detailed three dimensional datasets. At the beamlines W2 and BW2 of the storage ring DORIS at DESY, Hamburg, Germany, we used SRμCT to study the cranial anatomy of different species and different developmental stages of caecilians (Lissamphibia: Gymnophiona). Here we describe a work-flow for analysis of the SRμCT data that covers segmentation of tissues in Amira® (Mercury Computer Systems), photorealistic rendering and animation in Maya^TM, rapid prototyping, and morphometrics. The integration of different analyses of SRμCT data in our study resulted in a comprehensive understanding of form, function, and evolution of caecilian skulls. SRμCT imaging has the potential to become a standard technique for life sciences applications in the near future.

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Thomas Kleinteich, Felix Beckmann, Julia Herzen, Adam P. Summers, and Alexander Haas "Applying x-ray tomography in the field of vertebrate biology: form, function, and evolution of the skull of caecilians (Lissamphibia: Gymnophiona)", Proc. SPIE 7078, Developments in X-Ray Tomography VI, 70780D (15 September 2008); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.795063

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