Research Interests

The molecular basis of mesoderm formation

Research Area

The different cell types of the body are formed in the right place and at the right time in response to signals that are produced by special organiser regions of the embryo. These so-called morphogens act in a concentration-dependent manner to induce the formation of different cell types at different positions within developing tissues. One of the earliest interactions of this kind is mesoderm induction, which results in the formation of organs and cell types such as heart, muscle, kidney and bone. We use frog, zebrafish and mouse embryos to study mesoderm-inducing factors and to ask how cells respond to them. One aim is to understand how the signals exert long-range effects in the embryo, and how cells distinguish between different morphogen concentrations to activate different genes. We go on to explore how these different genes then participate in the genetic regulatory networks that result in the formation of specific cell types. The principles we define in the early embryo inform additional work on events in later development,including the heart and vasculature, and on the differentiation of embryonic stem cells, where we hope that our work will help direct ES cells down particular developmental pathways.

Current Members

Smith, James C (Principal Investigator/Director) Contact

Contact

Institution: Francis Crick Institute

Address:
London
United Kingdom

Web Page: http://www.crick.ac.uk/jim-smith

Personal Phone: +44 (0) 20 8816 2048