title: Vertebrate development: the subtle art of germ-layer specification.
abstract: Nodal signalling is essential for vertebrate germ-layer formation. How this single signal can generate such a diverse array of tissues remains a mystery and is an area of intense research. Three recent reports reveal unanticipated subtleties to the process and provide new mechanisms for generating distinct responses.
authors.affiliation: Division of Developmental Biology, National Institute for Medical Research, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA, UK. dstempl@nimr.mrc.ac.uk
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Stemple
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004627:Embryonic Induction; D005855:Germ Layers; D008954:Models, Biological; D055457:Nodal Protein; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D014714:Vertebrates / Q000196:embryology*
chemical_list: D055457:Nodal Protein; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta