What does Sonic hedgehog gene do?
The SHH gene provides instructions for making a protein called Sonic Hedgehog. This protein functions as a chemical signal that is essential for embryonic development. Sonic Hedgehog plays a role in cell growth, cell specialization, and the normal shaping (patterning) of the body.
Why is it called Sonic the hedgehog gene?
Sonic was named as such by the Harvard researcher (Cliff Tabin) because two previous gene family members had been named Indian and dessert hedgehog based on the way fruit flies looked when these gene were mutated.
What organisms have Sonic hedgehog gene?
The hedgehog (hh) gene is one of the segment polarity genes that regulate segmental and imaginal disc patterning in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. Mammals have three genes with homology to the hh gene. These comprise Sonic hedgehog (Shh), Indian hedgehog (Ihh), and Desert hedgehog (Dhh).
Is the Sonic hedgehog gene real?
“Sonic Hedgehog,” or the SHH gene, also appears in vertebrates, including humans, and is much more vital to development than its name might suggest. The gene codes for a similarly named protein “Sonic Hedgehog,” which acts as a chemical signal that’s essential to developing embryos.
How does the Sonic hedgehog gene control limb development?
The secreted protein Sonic hedgehog (Shh) and its transmembrane receptor Patched (Ptc) control a major signal transduction pathway in early vertebrate limb development. The model also predicts that lower concentrations of Shh in a bead will produce a response similar to that after a tissue transplant.
Who found Sonic hedgehog gene?
Clifford J. Tabin
Clifford J. Tabin, a developmental biologist at Harvard Medical School, suggested they name each newly detected gene after a species of real hedgehog. This scheme stuck for the first three genes, which were designated Indian hedgehog, moonrat hedgehog and desert hedgehog.
Is Sonic hedgehog a receptor?
Sonic hedgehog (SHH) is the best studied ligand of the vertebrate pathway. When SHH reaches its target cell, it binds to the Patched-1 (PTCH1) receptor (Process “3” on Figure 5, the blue molecule).
What treasure does Neil Shubin want?
NEIL SHUBIN VO What draws me here is treasure – my kind of treasure: fossils hidden inside ancient rocks. In particular, the fossils of long dead fish, but not just any old fish. I’m hunting for fish that carry the story of our own bodies inside of them .
Who is Dr Neil Shubin Where does he work and what does he do?
Neil Shubin is the Robert Bensley Distinguished Service Professor at the University of Chicago and associate dean for academic strategy of the university’s Biological Sciences Division.
How are genes regulated by Sonic hedgehog in vitro?
Shh ligand (SHH) or vehicle-only was added to cNCCs in vitro, and 48 h later gene expression was assessed by microarray (Fig. 1d ). SHH stimulation of cNCCs resulted in the differential expression of 2749 genes, with 1305 genes upregulated and 1444 genes downregulated (Fig. 2a and Additional file 1 ).
What kind of signaling molecule is sonic hedgehog?
Sonic hedgehog (SHH) is a signaling molecule that is encoded by the same gene sonic hedgehog. SHH plays a very important role in organogenesis and, most importantly, craniofacial development. Being that SHH is a signaling molecule, it primarily works by diffusion along a concentration gradient, affecting cells in different manners.
How did the sonic hedgehog get his name?
There’s a gene that’s pivotal in not only separating your right brain from your left, but also in making sure that you have two, individual eyes. That gene, and the protein it codes for, are both called Sonic Hedgehog. Here’s how that happened.
Why is sonic hedgehog important to human development?
This protein functions as a chemical signal that is essential for embryonic development. Sonic Hedgehog plays a role in cell growth, cell specialization, and the normal shaping (patterning) of the body. This protein is important for development of the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system), eyes, limbs, and many other parts of the body.
