title: Signaling networks in palate development.
abstract: Palatogenesis, the formation of the palate, is a dynamic process regulated by a complex series of context-dependent morphogenetic signaling events. Many genes involved in palatogenesis have been discovered through the use of genetically manipulated mouse models as well as from human genetic studies, but the roles of these genes and their products in signaling networks regulating palatogenesis are still poorly known. In this review, we give a brief overview on palatogenesis and introduce key signaling cascades leading to formation of the intact palate. Moreover, we review conceptual differences between pathway biology and network biology and discuss how some of the recent technological advances in conjunction with mouse genetic models have contributed to our understanding of signaling networks regulating palate growth and fusion. For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The authors have declared no conflicts of interest for this article.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Jamie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lane
authors.forename: Vesa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kaartinen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D047108:Embryonic Development; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D010159:Palate / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction