Embryos shape their limbs: a key discovery of "genetic brakes"
3 hours ago
- #embryonic development
- #limb formation
- #gene regulation
- Canadian scientists discovered that Polycomb complexes PRC1 and PRC2 act as 'genetic brakes' to silence genes crucial for early limb development.
- Proper limb formation in embryos requires early genes to activate initially and then be quickly turned off to allow subsequent genetic programs to proceed.
- Disrupting both PRC1 and PRC2 systems in mice led to persistent early gene activity and severe limb development abnormalities.