Liberal Arts and Sciences
Martindale Lab
Led by Mark Martindale · Biology
What we study
The Martindale Lab studies how animal bodies form, regenerate, and evolve, focusing on marine invertebrates like sea anemones and ctenophores. They use techniques such as microinjection, cell labeling, ablation, and transplantation to explore pattern formation and cell type diversification.
What working here is like
- Wet lab
- Fieldwork
- Marine organisms
- Projects
- 5
- Papers
- 5
Current projects
Transgenesis in a ctenophore to study the origin of nervous systems and cellular responses to injury and regeneration
Developing genetic tools in Mnemiopsis leidyi to examine nervous system evolution and injury responses.
Presence of Phagocytic Cells in Jellyfish “Jelly”
Identifying immune‑like cells in jellyfish to understand early animal immunity.
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Experimentally Tests AI-Predicted Cytoplasmic Regulation of an Ancient Cell Signaling Pathway
Testing computational predictions about regulation of the β‑catenin pathway in early metazoans.
Evidence for an early cadherin‑catenin network in ctenophores
Investigating the origins of cell adhesion mechanisms in Mnemiopsis leidyi.
Effects of the Microbiome on the Life‑Cycle of the Upside‑Down Jellyfish Cassiopea xamachana
Studying how symbiotic microbes influence development and reproduction of Cassiopea jellyfish.
Summaries are written by AI in plain language from public symposium abstracts and may be imperfect.
Recent papers, explained
- Evidence for an early cadherin–catenin interaction network in ctenophores
2026 · Molecular Biology and Evolution
Shows that ctenophores have a simpler version of cell adhesion proteins found in other animals.
- Reconstructing the evolutionary origin of β-catenin recognition in the Wnt destruction complex
2026 · Molecular Biology and Evolution
Traces how a key protein in cell signaling evolved in early animals.
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- Cnidarian–algal partnerships structure bacterial communities during strobilation in Cassiopea xamachana
2026 · ISME Communications
Studies how bacteria change in jellyfish when they form new algae partners.
- Phagocytes in the mesoglea of the scyphozoan Cassiopea sp.
2026 · Developmental & Comparative Immunology
Finds immune cells in jellyfish that help fight infections, expanding knowledge of early animal immunity.
- Embryonic and planula development in the upside-down jellyfish Cassiopea xamachana
2025 · EvoDevo
Describes how a jellyfish develops from egg to swimming larva, similar to other jellyfish species.
Plain-language summaries are AI-written and reviewed by us; check the paper for details.
How to reach out
Mark Martindale hasn't set up this page yet. Their UF Scholars profile lists their publications.