On the nature of thumbs

Genome Biol. 2008;9(3):213. doi: 10.1186/gb-2008-9-3-213. Epub 2008 Mar 4.

Abstract

Asymmetric regulation of Hox gene expression pre-dates the appearance of tetrapod digits, and was co-opted in the development of 'thumbness'. This asymmetric expression correlates with independent morphological evolutionary variation of digit 1.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biological Evolution*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
  • Homeodomain Proteins / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Morphogenesis / genetics*
  • Thumb / anatomy & histology
  • Thumb / growth & development*

Substances

  • Homeodomain Proteins