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Journal of Undergraduate Research

Keywords

congenital limb malformations, embryonic limb formation, AER

College

Life Sciences

Department

Biology

Abstract

Congenital limb malformations occur in approximately 1 in 500 live births. These defects are due largely because of genetic and developmental causes. In my experiments, I have researched the source of these defects to understand how cell to cell signaling affects digit and limb formation. I was able to manipulate signaling between limb tissues during development to understand better how proteins interact with each other to stimulate growth in chick embryos. These same proteins have been observed in mammals such as mice and hopefully in the future may be applied in human development as well. There are many key factors which play roles in limb development. One of these key signaling centers in the developing limb is the apical ectodermal ridge (AER). The AER is a ridge of tissue that is found at the distal margin of the embryonic limb bud. Past studies have revealed that when the AER is removed at early stages of development, the limb is severely truncated to the humerus. When removed at progressively later stages, increasing extents of distal development occurs (i.e., radius, ulna, and digits). It was proven later that members of the Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF) family can replace the AER in signaling growth and patterning of the limb. My experiment was to study the effect of the FGF protein and it’s interaction with Sonic Hedge Hog, another protein involved in limb development.

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