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Updated: May 25, 2026

Chicken Recombinant Limbs Assay to Understand Morphogenesis, Patterning, and Early Steps in Cell Differentiation
Published on: January 12, 2022
Hypothesis: terminal transverse limb defects with "nubbins" represent a regenerative process during limb development
David M Gardiner1, Lewis B Holmes
1Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, Calif., USA.
Background:
Terminal transverse limb defects with nubbins occur in one arm at one of several levels (distal humerus, proximal forearm, wrist, and at the metacarpal-phalangeal joint in the hand). The associated nubbins contain osteocartilaginous tissue and small nails and are not associated with evidence of amnion disruption.
Methods:
We present affected newborn infants whose terminal transverse limb defects are at one of these three levels: proximal forearm, elbow, or metacarpal-phalangeal joint.
Results:
We hypothesize that the presence of residual digit-like structures reflects a regenerative process that has occurred during limb development in these infants.
Discussion:
Only limited regeneration of digit-like structures can occur in the human fetus.
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