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Study of cell development using derepressed mutations

Nature volume 255, pages 707–708 (1975)Cite this article

Abstract

CURRENTLY there is considerable interest in determining how genes are expressed in a highly ordered sequence during morphogenesis. The main genetic approach to this problem has been to study mutants blocked in development. Such mutants are, however, highly pleiotropic; no biochemical or morphological event normally occurring after a point of mutational block is expressed1. This, coupled with inadequate knowledge of biochemical events specific to development2, and the absence of detectable cross feeding between defective mutants3, makes it difficult to determine the precise lesion in any mutant and its place in control of the sequence. Another method, selecting mutations affecting known biochemical functions can be more rewarding but is also hampered by ignorance of biochemical events relevant to development2,4.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3JG, UK

    IAN W. DAWES

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  1. IAN W. DAWES
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DAWES, I. Study of cell development using derepressed mutations. Nature 255, 707–708 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1038/255707a0

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