Generation and Interpretation of Morphogen Gradients

Signaling by diffusible morphogens, such as Hedgehog, Wingless, TGF-, and various growth factors, is vital for developmental patterning, ensuring that distinct differentiated cell types appear in the right place and at the right time in forming tissues. The expert contributors to this volume discuss the roles of morphogen gradients in organisms from yeast to humans. They examine the regulation of morphogen synthesis, trafficking, and diffusion, as well as the complex webs of signaling mechanisms and transcriptional responses in recipient cells. The book is a vital reference for developmental biologists and cell biologists wishing to know how cell fate is determined during embryogenesis.