title: Topography, stem cell behaviour, and organogenesis.
abstract: The fundamental problem of development is to explain how the progeny of a single cell, the fertilised egg, differentiates to form all the tissues of the body in the right place at the right time. It has only been during the last couple of years that the mechanisms and molecules mediating interactions between cells and tissues have begun to be delineated. This article reviews some of these recent studies. Sequences of topographically defined cellular interactions lead not only to the development of the body but also to the obvious and remarkable inference that the body more or less automatically builds itself.
authors.affiliation: Human Anatomy, Sherrington Buildings, Ashton Street, Liverpool L69 3GE, UK. dhedgar@liv.ac.uk
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Edgar
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kenny
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Almond
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Murray
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D019070:Cell Lineage / Q000502:physiology; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D038081:Organogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*