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Sea Urchin Embryo

A Model System for Analyzing Cellular Activities During Early Development

  • Chapter
Sourcebook of Models for Biomedical Research

Abstract

Sea urchin embryos have long been used as ideal experimental materials. In this chapter, we describe research areas to which sea urchin embryos have contributed, and the potential fields for which they may serve as a model system. The most valuable feature of sea urchin embryos is the availability of a large amount of homogeneous material, which facilitates biochemical and molecular biological approaches. The ease of gamete handling enables detailed analysis of the mechanism of fertilization, and the transparency and synchrony of fertilized eggs facilitate investigations on cell division and the cell cycle. Sea urchin embryos are an ideal model system for signal transduction, because the number of constituent cells is small. The simple organization of the embryo simplifies the analysis of morphogenetic movements. Both primary and secondary mesenchyme cells are interesting populations for studying cell movement. Sea urchin embryos will continue to contribute to the analysis of various unsolved problems.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Japan

    Tetsuya Kominami DSC & Hiromi Takata DSC

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  1. Tetsuya Kominami DSC
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  2. Hiromi Takata DSC
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR

    P. Michael Conn PhD (Associate Director and Senior Scientist, Professor of Physiology and Pharmacology, Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology) (Associate Director and Senior Scientist, Professor of Physiology and Pharmacology, Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology)

  2. Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR

    P. Michael Conn PhD (Associate Director and Senior Scientist, Professor of Physiology and Pharmacology, Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology) (Associate Director and Senior Scientist, Professor of Physiology and Pharmacology, Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology)

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© 2008 Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ

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Kominami, T., Takata, H. (2008). Sea Urchin Embryo. In: Conn, P.M. (eds) Sourcebook of Models for Biomedical Research. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-285-4_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-285-4_11

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-933-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59745-285-4

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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