Achieving bilateral symmetry during vertebrate limb development

Semin Cell Dev Biol. 2009 Jun;20(4):479-84. doi: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2008.10.011. Epub 2008 Nov 5.

Abstract

While the various internal organs of vertebrates display many obvious left-right asymmetries in their location and/or morphology, external features exhibit a high degree of bilateral symmetry. How this external bilateral symmetry is established during development is largely unknown. In this review, we explore several mechanisms, in place during development, that regulate the final size of the limb. These mechanisms rely on the presence of positive signaling feedback loops during limb bud growth. Through the activity of these signaling loops and their eventual breakdown when the limb bud has reached a certain size, bilateral symmetry can be achieved.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Body Patterning / physiology*
  • Embryonic Development
  • Limb Buds / growth & development*
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Vertebrates