Skip to main content
Log in

Developmental biology

Sharp peaks from shallow sources

  • News & Views
  • Published:

From Nature

View current issue Submit your manuscript

The use of mathematical modelling to formulate and test theories is still quite rare in biology. It has now been applied to show how a robust, sharp peak of signalling molecules can be formed in developing fruitfly embryos.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Figure 1: Model for generating a sharp gradient of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) in fruitfly embryos, according to Eldar et al.3.

References

  1. Gurdon, J. B. & Bourillot, P.-Y Nature 413, 797–803 (2001).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Lander, A. D. et al. Dev. Cell 2, 785–796 (2002).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Eldar, A. et al. Nature 419, 304–308 (2002).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Srinivasan, S. et al. Dev. Cell 2, 91–101 (2002).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Ashe, H. L. & Levine, M. Nature 398, 427–431 (1999).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Decotto, E. & Ferguson, E. L. Development 128, 3831–3841(2001).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Marques, G. et al. Cell 91, 417–426 (1997).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Ross, J. J. et al. Nature 410, 479–483 (2001).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Larraín, J. et al. Development 128, 4439–4447 (2001).

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  10. Dale, L. & Wardle, F. C. Semin. Cell Dev. Biol. 10, 319–326 (1999).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Arendt, D. & Nübler-Jung, K. Nature 371, 26 (1994).

  12. St Johnston, D. & Nüsslein-Volhard, C. Cell 68, 201–219 (1992).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Meinhardt, H. BioEssays 24, 185–191 (2002).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Jazwinska, A. et al. Development 126, 3323–3334 (1999).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Meinhardt, H., Roth, S. Sharp peaks from shallow sources. Nature 419, 261–262 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/419261a

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/419261a

  • Springer Nature Limited

This article is cited by

Navigation