Researchers at the University of Barcelona have identified a role in gene expression for retinoic acid, important in the embryonic development of vertebrates. The acid seems to regulate the gene expression in cell proliferation and differentiation during the embryonic development and the formation of body symmetry patterns. The researchers showed that retinoic acid controlled cell differentiation in the species P. dumerilii and aided in the proper formation of neurons. This acid likely has roots in the evolution of bilateral symmetry, which is a very basic shared trait amongst Chordates.
Link to news release here.
Kim Foecke
No comments:
Post a Comment