Molecular Development: Difference between revisions
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Fly Heads of wildtype and antennapedia (Hox) mutant (Images Dr. Rudi Turner) | Fly Heads of wildtype and antennapedia (Hox) mutant (Images Dr. Rudi Turner) | ||
I am 2.85 billion nucleotides of DNA, but so is a chimpanzee, and all this DNA encodes only about 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. | |||
In development, I am not that different from a mouse or a fly and many of the signals that regulate development are used time and time again. | |||
We have come a long way from just observing development to now wanting to understand how the complex program of development is controlled. Using new research tools and some excellent animal models researchers have discovered common themes and mechanisms that tie all embryonic development together. | |||
What is remarkable, given our biological diversity, is the strong evolutionary conservation of developmental mechanisms. This has been a boon in allowing the use of many (easier) model systems such as the genetist's tool the fruitfly, and the worm, frog, chicken, zebrafish and mouse (see other embryos page). | What is remarkable, given our biological diversity, is the strong evolutionary conservation of developmental mechanisms. This has been a boon in allowing the use of many (easier) model systems such as the genetist's tool the fruitfly, and the worm, frog, chicken, zebrafish and mouse (see other embryos page). | ||
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In terms of molecular mechanisms, the field of epigenetics has begun to florish with some recent important findings. | In terms of molecular mechanisms, the field of epigenetics has begun to florish with some recent important findings. | ||
Molecular mechanisms of development is an exciting area and requires a variety of different skills. This page introduces only a few examples and should give you a feel for the topic. Note that each section of system notes has a page covering molecular Development in that system. | |||
{{Glossary}} | {{Glossary}} | ||
{{Footer}} | {{Footer}} | ||
Revision as of 11:40, 29 June 2010
Introduction
This page is a link to many different resources related to Molecular Development. In current years we have turned from wanting to merely describe the events of embryogenesis, to a desire to understand the mechanisms of development.
Fly Heads of wildtype and antennapedia (Hox) mutant (Images Dr. Rudi Turner)
I am 2.85 billion nucleotides of DNA, but so is a chimpanzee, and all this DNA encodes only about 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes.
In development, I am not that different from a mouse or a fly and many of the signals that regulate development are used time and time again.
We have come a long way from just observing development to now wanting to understand how the complex program of development is controlled. Using new research tools and some excellent animal models researchers have discovered common themes and mechanisms that tie all embryonic development together.
What is remarkable, given our biological diversity, is the strong evolutionary conservation of developmental mechanisms. This has been a boon in allowing the use of many (easier) model systems such as the genetist's tool the fruitfly, and the worm, frog, chicken, zebrafish and mouse (see other embryos page).
A continuing theme also seems to be the reuse of signals at different times and places within the embryo, for diiferent jobs. This has given rise to the concept of "switches" which by themselves may contain no "information" but to activate other genes or switches. Finally, you can imagine that of our 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes, a large number of these may only be expressed during development or if reused, have a completely different role in the mature animal.
In terms of molecular mechanisms, the field of epigenetics has begun to florish with some recent important findings.
Molecular mechanisms of development is an exciting area and requires a variety of different skills. This page introduces only a few examples and should give you a feel for the topic. Note that each section of system notes has a page covering molecular Development in that system.
Glossary Links
- Glossary: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | Numbers | Symbols | Term Link
Cite this page: Hill, M.A. (2024, May 25) Embryology Molecular Development. Retrieved from https://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/embryology/index.php/Molecular_Development
- © Dr Mark Hill 2024, UNSW Embryology ISBN: 978 0 7334 2609 4 - UNSW CRICOS Provider Code No. 00098G
