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Analyzing Craniofacial Morphogenesis in Zebrafish Using 4D Confocal Microscopy
Published on: January 30, 2014
Molecular control of facial morphology
1Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, United States.
None:
We present a developmental perspective on the concept of phylotypic and phenotypic stages of craniofacial development. Within orders of avians and mammals, a phylotypic period exists when the morphology of the facial prominences is minimally divergent. We postulate that species-specific facial variations arise as a result of subtle shifts in the timing and the duration of molecular pathway activity (e.g., heterochrony), and present evidence demonstrating a critical role for Wnt and FGF signaling in this process. The same molecular pathways that shape the vertebrate face are also implicated in craniofacial deformities, indicating that comparisons between and among animal species may represent a novel method for the identification of human craniofacial disease genes.
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