Heart genetics in a small package, exploiting the condensed genome of Ciona intestinalis

Defects in the initial establishment of cardiogenic cell fate are likely to contribute to pervasive human congenital cardiac abnormalities. However, the molecular underpinnings of nascent cardiac fate induction have proven difficult to decipher. In this review we explore the participation of extracellular, cellular and nuclear factors in comprehensive specification networks. At each level, we elaborate on insights gained through the study of cardiogenesis in the invertebrate chordate Ciona intestinalis and propose productive lines of future research. In-depth discussion of pre-cardiac induction is intended to serve as a paradigm, illustrating the potential use of Ciona to elucidate comprehensive networks underlying additional aspects of chordate cardiogenesis, including directed migration and subspecification of cardiac and pharyngeal lineages.