We suggest that in embryogenesis of mammals and birds in process of mesenchyme determination of developing limb bud the spatial pattern of expression of homeo box-containing genes (hox genes) from 4 families has the form of "square matrix" or "grid". This grid plays a role of coordinates in further steps of differentiation of the limb mesenchyme. The results of computer reproduction of hox-gene patterning processes leads to principal conclusion that each domain of the hox gene expression in mesenchyme of developing limb marks either zone of condensation of cartilaginous elements or necrotic zone. A wide variety of abnormalities in the pentadactyl limb skeleton (conditioned by mutant genes, chemical agents or surgical manipulations) is enable to verify the predictions of the model.
This paper was published in "Computer Simulations in Biology, Ecology and Medicine, 1992, Proceedings of the VIII Prague Symposium SiSy b/e/m" (M.Kotva ed.)
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