Research report 2011 - Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics

Evo-Devo and the greatest similarities - The hourglass model of embryogenesis

Authors
Tomancak, Pavel
Departments
Patterns of gene expression in animal development (Tomancak Lab)
Summary
In the middle of their development, the embryos of different species show maximal similarity – embryogenesis diverges more extensively prior and after that phase, known as the hourglass model. Also the expression patterns of the genes involved show greatest similarities between embryos during the phylotypic stage. The genes that conform most to the hourglass pattern are involved in key developmental processes. These results give an insight into the molecular basis of the hourglass pattern and indicate that natural selection acts to conserve patterns of gene expression during mid-embryogenesis.

For the full text, see the German version.

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