Elegant hypothesis and inelegant fact in developmental biology.
The relationship between theoretical and experimental approaches to the problem of pattern generation during embryonic development has often been uneasy. This stems at least in part from the different emphases that have typically been used in the two approaches. The spectacular success of modern genetic techniques in uncovering developmental mechanisms has led to a widespread belief that theory is no longer very relevant. However, recent examples of data-driven modelling point to new roles for theoretical approaches in exploring important issues such as the robustness and evolution of pattern-forming mechanisms.
Monk
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Division of Genomic Medicine, University of Sheffield, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, UK S10 2JF. n.monk@sheffield.ac.uk
D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000235:genetics*; D015509:Developmental Biology / Q000379:methods; D004626:Embryology / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D012107:Research Design; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity