Abstract
Imaginal disks are epithelial structures characteristic of insects that undergo complete metamorphosis. These epithelia originate during embryonic development from groups of ectodermal cells that grow during the larval stages to form the mature disk. The imaginal disks differentiate into most of the structures of the adult insect, such as the legs, wings, and head. The development of the imaginal disks has being studied mostly in the Dipteran Drosophila melanogaster, a model organism in the analysis of the genetic and cellular regulation of animal development. The genes controlling the development of the imaginal disks are conserved in vertebrates. Similarly, the cellular processes underlying the development of imaginal disks are also conserved through evolution. We will discuss here the main aspects of imaginal disk development, emphasizing their cellular architecture, growth, and pattern formation mechanisms. We will also discuss the uses of imaginal disks in the analysis of gene function and in biomedical research.
Published Version
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