Developmental genetics
The signals that shape the embryo, and what happens when they fail.
6 pages
Topics
- Molecular regulation: Shh, Wnt, FGF, BMP, Hox genes and retinoic acidA handful of chemical signals tells each embryonic cell where it is and what to become
- Weeks 3–8: the embryonic period and organogenesisBetween weeks three and eight every organ forms; it is when the embryo is most vulnerable to…
- Principles of teratology: critical periods, dose and genotypeWhy the same drug, virus or exposure can do nothing, cause a miscarriage or cause a birth…
- HoloprosencephalyThe forebrain does not divide properly into two halves; the midline of the face is affected too…
- Achondroplasia (FGFR3)The most common cause of short stature with short limbs: an overactive gene slows the growth of…
Conditions and syndromes
This section is an index: it gathers pages from Biochemistry, Pathology, Embryology and other sections without repeating them. Educational content; it does not replace a geneticist's assessment or genetic counselling.
Representative model, for educational purposes only.