Axial skeleton homeosis and forelimb malformations in Hoxd-11 mutant mice

The Hoxd-11 gene was disrupted by homologous recombination in embryonic stem cells. We found that Hoxd-11-/- mutant mice are viable and display homeotic transformations of their sacral vertebrae, while their forelimbs present abnormalities of some metacarpals and of the first row of carpal bones. These results are discussed in the light of current models of tetrapod axial skeleton and limb patterning.