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Control of segment number in vertebrate embryos

Author

Listed:
  • Céline Gomez

    (Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, Missouri 64110, USA)

  • Ertuğrul M. Özbudak

    (Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, Missouri 64110, USA)

  • Joshua Wunderlich

    (Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, Missouri 64110, USA)

  • Diana Baumann

    (Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, Missouri 64110, USA)

  • Julian Lewis

    (Vertebrate Development Laboratory, Cancer Research UK, London Research Institute)

  • Olivier Pourquié

    (Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, Missouri 64110, USA
    Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Kansas City, Missouri 64110, USA)

Abstract

“Development” Making vertebrae count The number of vertebrae, and hence the number of segments or 'somites' in the body, is highly variable among different vertebrate species. For instance, frogs have 10 vertebrae, while many snakes have over 300. But what controls vertebra number in a given species and why does it vary so much between species? Gomez et al. propose that the number depends on a balance struck early in embryogenesis between the division of the body into somites and the overall rate of development. They establish this by showing snakes have a much greater segmentation clock speed, relative to embryo development as a whole, than lizards and other vertebrates with fewer somites.

Suggested Citation

  • Céline Gomez & Ertuğrul M. Özbudak & Joshua Wunderlich & Diana Baumann & Julian Lewis & Olivier Pourquié, 2008. "Control of segment number in vertebrate embryos," Nature, Nature, vol. 454(7202), pages 335-339, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:454:y:2008:i:7202:d:10.1038_nature07020
    DOI: 10.1038/nature07020
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    Cited by:

    1. Mayu Sugiyama & Takashi Saitou & Hiroshi Kurokawa & Asako Sakaue-Sawano & Takeshi Imamura & Atsushi Miyawaki & Tadahiro Iimura, 2014. "Live Imaging-Based Model Selection Reveals Periodic Regulation of the Stochastic G1/S Phase Transition in Vertebrate Axial Development," PLOS Computational Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(12), pages 1-16, December.
    2. Kemal Keseroglu & Oriana Q. H. Zinani & Sevdenur Keskin & Hannah Seawall & Eslim E. Alpay & Ertuğrul M. Özbudak, 2023. "Stochastic gene expression and environmental stressors trigger variable somite segmentation phenotypes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
    3. Yi-Cheng Chang & Jan Manent & Jan Schroeder & Siew Fen Lisa Wong & Gabriel M. Hauswirth & Natalia A. Shylo & Emma L. Moore & Annita Achilleos & Victoria Garside & Jose M. Polo & Paul Trainor & Edwina , 2022. "Nr6a1 controls Hox expression dynamics and is a master regulator of vertebrate trunk development," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-19, December.

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