HoxA13 gain-of-function in chicken embryo PSM progenitors.

ABSTRACT: Within a given vertebrate species, the total number of vertebrae in each anatomical domain is precisely defined and shows little variation among individuals. In contrast, this number can vary tremendously between different species, ranging from as few as six vertebrae in frogs to as many as several hundred in some snakes and fish. Segmental precursors of the vertebrae, called somites are produced sequentially in the embryo from the presomitic mesoderm (PSM), until a final number characteristic of the species, is reached. Here, we show in the chicken embryo that, by controlling the rate of axis elongation, Hox genes control the total number of somites generated by the embryo. We observed that activation of the most posterior Hox genes in somite precursors of the tail bud correlates with an

ORGANISM(S): Gallus gallus

SUBMITTER: philippe moncuquet 

PROVIDER: E-GEOD-38107 | biostudies-arrayexpress |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-arrayexpress