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Left-right asymmetry in animal development

W B Wood1

  • 1Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder 80309-0347, USA. wood@colorado.edu

Annual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology
|January 1, 1997
PubMed
Summary

Animal body plans show left-right asymmetry and handedness biases. While the exact mechanism remains a mystery, recent research is revealing developmental pathways for establishing these differences.

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Area of Science:

  • Developmental biology
  • Comparative anatomy
  • Evolutionary biology

Background:

  • Most animal species display left-right asymmetry in their body plans.
  • A strong bias for one handedness (e.g., left or right) is observed across species.
  • The underlying mechanism of handedness determination is a long-standing, unresolved question in biology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the current understanding of how left-right asymmetry arises in animals.
  • To investigate the developmental pathways involved in establishing and maintaining bodily asymmetry.
  • To speculate on the potential mechanisms driving the initial choice of handedness.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent advances in developmental biology concerning asymmetry.
  • Comparative analysis of asymmetry in both invertebrate and vertebrate species.
  • Synthesis of findings to form hypotheses on handedness choice mechanisms.

Main Results:

  • Emerging understanding of when and how asymmetry develops in diverse animal groups.
  • Identification of potential developmental pathways responsible for left-right differences.
  • Foundation for informed speculation on the initial choice mechanism of handedness.

Conclusions:

  • Developmental pathways for asymmetry are becoming clearer.
  • Further research into these pathways may unlock the mystery of handedness choice.
  • Understanding asymmetry provides insights into fundamental biological processes.

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