MCA: expanding taxonomic perspectives in evolutionary developmental research

The National Science Foundation Division of Emerging Frontiers awarded Miami University $259,649 on September 1, 2026, under the Biological Sciences program (CFDA 47.074) to investigate the developmental and evolutionary mechanisms that generate diversity in beetle prothorax and elytra structures across thousands of beetle lineages. The research integrates developmental genetics with large-scale comparative studies to establish a framework for tracing the evolutionary history of complex anatomical structures and uncovering the genetic mechanisms shaping their diversity. The project will generate insights relevant to biotechnology and bio-inspired design by examining how beetle exoskeletons exhibit variation in shape, surface structure, mechanical properties, coloration, and protective functions that represent natural design solutions for structural engineering and advanced materials development. The award also funds undergraduate research experiences, public engagement in science, and programs designed to increase participation and retention in science and technology regardless of disability status. Performance occurs in Oxford, Ohio, with an ultimate completion date of August 31, 2029.

Abstract

Beetles comprise nearly one-quarter of all known animal species and display remarkable diversity in form and structure. Understanding how this diversity evolved is a fundamental challenge in biology because IT reveals how novel structures emerge, diversify, and contribute to ecological success. This project focuses on two key beetle structures, the prothorax and the hardened forewings known as elytra, to investigate the developmental and evolutionary mechanisms that have generated their extensive diversity across beetle lineages. By integrating developmental genetics with large-scale comparative studies spanning thousands of beetle lineages, the project will establish a new framework for tracing the evolutionary history of complex anatomical structures and uncovering the genetic mechanisms that shape their diversity. This research will advance fundamental knowledge of biological innovation while generating insights relevant to biotechnology and BIO-inspired design. Beetle exoskeletons and elytra exhibit exceptional variation in shape, surface structure, mechanical properties, coloration, and protective functions, representing a vast source of natural design solutions. Understanding the developmental mechanisms that generate this diversity may provide new design principles for BIO-inspired structural engineering and advanced materials development. The project will also support undergraduate research experiences, expand public engagement in science, and develop programs aimed at increasing participation and retention in science and technology regardless of disability status, thereby broadening participation in stem and strengthening the nation?s future scientific workforce. This project advances NSF's priorities in biotechnology. Tracing the evolutionary history of morphological structures serves as a fundamental framework across multiple branches of evolutionary biology, including phylogeny, taxonomy, and evolutionary developmental biology (EVO-devo). However, these disciplines approach this challenge from complementary but somewhat disconnected perspectives. This project will bridge the long-standing disciplinary divide by integrating comparative morphology, taxonomy, and EVO-devo, establishing a mechanistically grounded framework for evaluating morphological homology and diversification across the order coleoptera. The research has three objectives: (1) conduct an order-wide comparative survey of beetle thoracic morphology; (2) systematically screen genome-wide rnai resources in the model beetle tribolium castaneum to identify genes required for prothorax and elytron development; and (3) extend functional genetic analyses to additional beetle species to empirically test structural homology across beetle lineages. These approaches will place gene function at the center of morphological assessment, enabling the discovery of hidden homologies and developmental constraints that are not readily apparent from morphology alone. By broadening and increasing the taxonomic sampling of EVO-devo analyses, this project will enable the examination of morphological diversification and the emergence of novel traits across continuous evolutionary intervals, thus capturing evolutionary transitions at finer resolution and providing a more comprehensive perspective on trait evolution. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are not planned for this award.