Vertebrate development I: life cycles and experimental techniques

Abstract

This chapter explores similarities and differences in the development of frogs, birds, fish, and mammals. It also looks into experimental approaches which investigate vertebrate development using Xenopus, zebrafish, chick, and mouse as models. The chapter refers here to transgenic techniques which are used to produce mutations with specific genes as an example. Additionally, the chapter notes how all vertebrates have a similar basic body plan with defining structures such as the spinal cord and skull. It shows the similarity between a mouse and a human in terms of early development. The chapter also links approaches used in investigating human embryonic development. Techniques for interfering with development can be broadly divided between experimental embryological techniques and genetics-based techniques.