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Positional information revisited.

L Wolpert1

  • 1Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, University College and Middlesex School of Medicine, London.

Development (Cambridge, England)
|January 1, 1989
PubMed
Summary

Positional information guides pattern formation in development, with morphogens like bicoid and retinoic acid specifying cell states. Understanding how cells interpret these signals remains a key challenge in developmental biology.

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Area of Science:

  • Developmental Biology
  • Cellular Signaling
  • Pattern Formation

Background:

  • Positional information is crucial for pattern formation during embryonic development.
  • It influences cell differentiation by relating cell parameters to their position.
  • Evidence suggests boundaries and axes are important in positional systems.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the concept of positional information in developmental biology.
  • To discuss the evidence for morphogens and positional signaling.
  • To explore the challenges in interpreting positional information by cells.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature and evidence from various biological systems.
  • Analysis of proposed models for positional signaling, including morphogen gradients.
  • Examination of biological assays, such as grafting, for assessing positional value.

Main Results:

  • Substances like bicoid and retinoic acid show potential as morphogens for positional signaling.
  • Cells can differentiate based on subtle changes in chemical signal concentration.
  • Positional signals appear conserved across different animal groups at phylotypic stages.

Conclusions:

  • Positional information, through mechanisms like morphogen gradients and positional value, is fundamental to developmental patterning.
  • Interpreting these signals and understanding their molecular basis, particularly for positional value, requires further research.
  • The combination of isomorphic prepatterns and positional information may explain complex pattern development.

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