Center for Developmental Genetics, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, New York 10003, USA.
Genetics. 2012 Sep;192(1):55-66. doi: 10.1534/genetics.112.140590.
The experimental malleability and unique phylogenetic position of the sea squirt Ciona intestinalis as part of the sister group to the vertebrates have helped establish these marine chordates as model organisms for the study of developmental genetics and evolution. Here we summarize the tools, techniques, and resources available to the Ciona geneticist, citing examples of studies that employed such strategies in the elucidation of gene function in Ciona. Genetic screens, germline transgenesis, electroporation of plasmid DNA, and microinjection of morpholinos are all routinely employed, and in the near future we expect these to be complemented by targeted mutagenesis, homologous recombination, and RNAi. The genomic resources available will continue to support the design and interpretation of genetic experiments and allow for increasingly sophisticated approaches on a high-throughput, whole-genome scale.
海鞘（Ciona intestinalis）作为脊椎动物姐妹群的一部分，具有实验可塑性和独特的系统发育地位，这有助于将这些海洋脊索动物确立为发育遗传学和进化研究的模式生物。在这里，我们总结了适用于 Ciona 遗传学家的工具、技术和资源，并引用了利用这些策略阐明 Ciona 中基因功能的研究示例。遗传筛选、种系转基因、质粒 DNA 的电穿孔和 morpholino 的显微注射都是常规使用的方法，在不久的将来，我们预计这些方法将得到靶向诱变、同源重组和 RNAi 的补充。现有的基因组资源将继续支持遗传实验的设计和解释，并允许在高通量、全基因组范围内采用越来越复杂的方法。
