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Molecular Geometry of Body Pattern in Birds pp 63–74Cite as

How to Redesign the Body Pattern of an Organism

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Abstract

The combination of the study of embryonic development with a sophisticated genetic technology has led to the discovery of the molecular cascades that take place between DNA and the formation of an adult organism.

It has been known for over 100 years that the antennae of an insect can be transformed into a foot, and legs can be modified into wings, but these genetic events remained curiosities.

The discovery of homeobox genes, that determine the body plan of an animal and of a plant, changed radically this situation. Eight-legged and four-winged flies were produced and eyes were formed on wings and wings on eyes. Other experiments revealed the great importance of eye genes in development indicating the primary role of the eye in shaping body construction.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cell and Organism Biology, Lund University, Biology Building Sölvegatan 35, SE- 223 62, Lund, Sweden

    Prof. Dr. A. Lima-de-Faria

  2. Trumslagaregränd 10, SE-226 39, Lund, Sweden

    Prof. Dr. A. Lima-de-Faria

Authors
  1. Prof. Dr. A. Lima-de-Faria
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Correspondence to A. Lima-de-Faria .

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© 2012 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Lima-de-Faria, A. (2012). How to Redesign the Body Pattern of an Organism. In: Molecular Geometry of Body Pattern in Birds. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-25301-0_7

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