Somitogenesis (eBook)

MIGUEL MAROTO is a MRC Career Development Fellow and Lecturer at the University of Dundee, UK. He received his PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the Department of Biochemistry of the Universidad Autonoma of Madrid, Spain. His research interests include investigating the biochemical basis of different signalling mechanisms implicated in the acquisition of specific cell fates during vertebrate development. In recent years he has been involved in the analysis of the mechanism of the molecular clock in the control of the process of somitogenesis. NEIL V. WHITTOCK gained his PhD in Human Molecular Genetics whilst working at Guys’ and St Thomas’ Hospitals in London, UK. His research focussed on developing diagnostic genetic tests for Duchenne muscular dystrophy before moving on to identifying genes involved in bullous skin disorders. He then continued his research as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Dundee before arriving at the University of Exeter where he spent three years working alongside Dr Peter Turnpenny. The work at Exeter focussed on the identification of genes involved in human genetic disorders that affected the development of the spine and ribs, specifically the spondylocostal dysostoses. He now works as an Ambulance Technician in Devon, UK. and runs his own antique clock restoration business.

PREFACE 6
ABOUT THE EDITORS... 8
PARTICIPANTS 10
CONTENTS 12
Formation and Differentiation of Avian Somite Derivatives 15
Avian Somitogenesis: Translating Time and Space into Pattern 56
Genetic Analysis of Somite Formation in Laboratory Fish Models 72
Old Wares and New: Five Decades of Investigation of Somitogenesis in Xenopus laevis 87
Role of Delta- Like- 3 in Mammalian Somitogenesis and Vertebral Column Formation 109
Mesp- Family Genes Are Required for Segmental Patterning and Segmental Border Formation 127
bHLH Proteins and Their Role in Somitogenesis 138
Mouse Mutations Disrupting Somitogenesis and Vertebral Patterning 154
Defective Somitogenesis and Abnormal Vertebral Segmentation in Man 178
INDEX 204