title: Genetic and genomic approaches to study placental development.
abstract: Recent technological advances in genetic manipulation and expression profiling offer excellent opportunities to elucidate the molecular mechanisms controlling developmental processes during embryogenesis. Thus, this revolution also strongly benefits studies of the molecular genetics of placental development. Here we review the findings of several expression profiling analyses in extraembryonic tissues and assess how this work can contribute to the identification of essential components governing placental development. We further discuss the relevance of these components in the context of genetic manipulation experiments. In conclusion, the intelligent combination of genetic and genomic approaches will substantially accelerate the progress in identifying the key molecular pathways of placental development.
authors.affiliation: Genes and Development Research Group, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hemberger
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Zechner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D047108:Embryonic Development; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D023281:Genomics; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D010929:Placentation / Q000235:genetics*; D011247:Pregnancy; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D006133:Growth Substances; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor; D014157:Transcription Factors