Cell adhesion and movement in relation to the developing limb pattern in normal and talpid 3 mutant chick embryos

Abstract

ABSTRACT Descriptive studies of the talpid2 chick embryonic lethal mutant (ta3//a3) have suggested that the multiple effects produced by this gene are of mesodermal origin, and that they arise from defective mesenchymal cell movement and condensation (Ede & Kelly, 1964a, b). It may be argued that condensation in vivo is comparable to cell reaggregation of dissociated cells in vitro, and that defects in the former are likely to be reflected in the latter. In this case it should be possible to obtain experimental verification of this effect of the gene at the cellular level, using the quantitative methods for assessing aggregation developed by Moscona (1961a, b) and Curtis & Greaves (1965). The experiments reported here show a clear genetic effect upon cell adhesion in the wing-bud mesenchyme of the talpid3 mutant.