PUBLICATION

Concordia discors: duality in the origin of the vertebrate tail

Authors
Handrigan, G.R.
ID
ZDB-PUB-030722-2
Date
2003
Source
Journal of anatomy   202(3): 255-267 (Review)
Registered Authors
Keywords
none
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Biological Evolution*
  • Birds
  • Embryonic Induction/physiology*
  • Gastrula/physiology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Mammals
  • Morphogenesis/physiology
  • Nervous System/embryology
  • Phylogeny
  • Tail/embryology*
  • Vertebrates/embryology*
  • Xenopus
  • Zebrafish
PubMed
12713266 Full text @ J. Anat.
Abstract
The vertebrate tail is an extension of the main body axis caudal to the anus. The developmental origin of this structure has been a source of debate amongst embryologists for the past century. Some view tail development as a continuation of the morphogenetic processes that shape the head and trunk (i.e. gastrulation). The alternative view, secondary development, holds that the tail forms in a manner similar to limb development, i.e. by secondary induction. Previous developmental studies have provided support for both views. Here I revisit these studies, describing caudal morphogenesis in select vertebrates, the associated genes and developmental defects, and, as a relevant aside, consider the developmental and evolutionary relationships of primary and secondary neurulation. I conclude that caudal development enlists both gastrulation and secondary induction, and that the application of recent high-resolution cell labelling technology may clarify how these discordant programmes interact in building the vertebrate tail.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping