title: From morphogen to morphogenesis and back.
abstract: A long-term aim of the life sciences is to understand how organismal shape is encoded by the genome. An important challenge is to identify mechanistic links between the genes that control cell-fate decisions and the cellular machines that generate shape, therefore closing the gap between genotype and phenotype. The logic and mechanisms that integrate these different levels of shape control are beginning to be described, and recently discovered mechanisms of cross-talk and feedback are beginning to explain the remarkable robustness of organ assembly. The 'full-circle' understanding of morphogenesis that is emerging, besides solving a key puzzle in biology, provides a mechanistic framework for future approaches to tissue engineering.
authors.affiliation: European Molecular Biology Laboratory, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Darren
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gilmour
authors.affiliation: Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, 50674 Cologne, Germany.|European Molecular Biology Organization, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rembold
authors.affiliation: European Molecular Biology Laboratory, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany.|Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, 50674 Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leptin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000196:embryology; D025461:Feedback, Physiological; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins