title: Axis development: the mouse becomes a dachshund.
abstract: Targeted deletion of the gene for GDF11, a novel member of the TGFbeta family, has been found to cause an increase in the number of thoracic and lumbar vertebrae in the mouse. This is the first hint that a secreted factor may influence the specification of segment identity.
authors.affiliation: Embryology Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, University of Sydney, Australia. jgad@cmri.usyd.edu.au
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gad
authors.forename: P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Tam
mesh_terms: D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D005801:Genes, Homeobox; D055412:Growth Differentiation Factors; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D010641:Phenotype; D013131:Spine / Q000196:embryology*
chemical_list: D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; C119153:Gdf11 protein, mouse; D055412:Growth Differentiation Factors