Effects of Chemical Agents on Protein Biosynthesis during Embryonic Development

Abstract

An analysis at the molecular level of gene action in development allows multiple inferences to be drawn concerning the activation of some of the cells’ complement of genes and the repression of others. Mechanisms such as gene amplification, differential gene suppression and control at the translational level of protein biosynthcsis all probably play a role in the phenomenon of cellular differentiation. The genetic control of multicellular aspects of development — formation of tissues and organs and interactions between them — are less well understood in molecular terms.