Pattern formation in the immortal Hydra.
Well-documented experimental studies with Hydra, done 10-20 years before Mozart was born, marked the dawn of modern developmental biology. Since those days, the immortal and perpetually embryonic hydra has been a classic model system, but despite its deceptively simple appearance, hydra has not yielded its secrets readily. Recent evidence points to a pivotal role of PI-PKC-type signal transduction pathways in morphogenesis: interference with these pathways results in polyps with multiple heads or feet. While molecular techniques are revealing genes involved in pattern realization, a new model of pattern regulation, based on competition for hormonal factors by autoregulatory receptors, emphasizes epigenetic interactions.
Müller
W A
WA
Zoological Institute, University of Heidelberg, Germany. w.muller@sirius.mgen.uni-Heidelberg.de
D000818:Animals; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006829:Hydra / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development*; D008954:Models, Biological; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology