Left-right asymmetry in animal development.
Most animal species exhibit left-right asymmetry in their body plans and show a strong bias for one handedness over the other. The mechanism of handedness choice, recognized as an intriguing problem over a century ago, is still a mystery. However, from recent advances in understanding when and how asymmetry arises in both invertebrates and vertebrates, developmental pathways for establishment and maintenance of left-right differences are beginning to take shape, and speculations can be made on the initial choice mechanism.
Wood
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Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder 80309-0347, USA. wood@colorado.edu
D000818:Animals; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D047108:Embryonic Development; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D006128:Growth; D006801:Humans; D009024:Morphogenesis; D014714:Vertebrates / Q000033:anatomy & histology