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Some Problems in Limb Development

  • Chapter
Developmental Patterning of the Vertebrate Limb

Part of the book series: NATO ASI Series ((NSSA,volume 205))

Abstract

The problem is the relationship between genes and fingers, or more generally, how genes control the pattern and form of the limb. What is the generative programme for making a limb? How does one go from genes to morphology? The problem is difficult in itself, but made more so because of the limited possibilities for genetic analysis in vertebrates. While there are a number of mutations affecting limb development in mice they are, unlike the chick, not easily amenable to experimental analysis. The hope must thus lie in an underlying unity of developmental mechanisms, and so genes isolated from organisms as seemingly remote from vertebrates as Drosophila, can be used to identify genes in limb development. Already the pattern of expression of homeodomain containing genes supports this rather optimistic, but exciting, approach (Dolle et al, 1989).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, University College and Middlesex School of Medicine, London, UK

    Lewis Wolpert

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  1. Lewis Wolpert
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, Wales, UK

    J. Richard Hinchliffe

  2. University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain

    Juan M. Hurle

  3. National Institute for Medical Research, London, UK

    Dennis Summerbell

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© 1991 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Wolpert, L. (1991). Some Problems in Limb Development. In: Hinchliffe, J.R., Hurle, J.M., Summerbell, D. (eds) Developmental Patterning of the Vertebrate Limb. NATO ASI Series, vol 205. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-3310-8_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-3310-8_1

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-6457-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-3310-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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