Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Determination of polarity in the amphibian limb

Nature volume 261, pages 44–46 (1976)Cite this article

Abstract

ACCORDING to the classical work of Harrison and his followers1–6, the anteroposterior polarity of amphibian limbs consists of a ‘molecular polarisation’ of the cells which has been acquired by the late gastrula stage of development. I here present evidence that the polarity of the anteroposterior pattern is caused at a later stage of development by a signal emitted from a region posterior to the limb rudiment. In so far as this signal can travel in both directions it is not necessary to postulate any polarity at the cellular level.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Harrison, R. G., J. exp. Zool., 25, 413–461 (1918).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Harrison, R. G., J. exp. Zool., 32, 1–136 (1921).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Swett, F. H., J. exp. Zool., 47, 385–439 (1927).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Swett, F. H., Q. Rev. Biol., 12, 322–339 (1937).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Takaya, H., Annotnes zool. jap., 20, 181–279 (1941).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Detwiler, S. R., J. exp. Zool., 64, 405–414 (1933).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Schreckenberg, G. M., and Jacobson, A. G., Devl Biol., 42, 391–400 (1975).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Balinsky, B. I., Wilhelm Roux, Arch. EntwMech. Org., 130, 704–746 (1933).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Saunders, J. W., and Gasseling, M. T., in Epithelial Mesenchymal Interactions (edit. by Fleischmayer, R., and Billingham, R. E.), 78–97 (Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore, 1968).

    Google Scholar 

  10. Saunders, J., Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., 193, 29–41 (1972).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  11. Tickle, C., Summerbell, D., and Wolpert, L., Nature, 254, 199–202 (1975).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Tickle, C., Shellswell, G. Crawley, A., and Wolpert, L., Nature, 259, 396–397 (1976).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology as Applied to Medicine, Middlesex Hospital Medical School, London, W1P 6DB, UK

    J. M. W. SLACK

Authors
  1. J. M. W. SLACK
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

SLACK, J. Determination of polarity in the amphibian limb. Nature 261, 44–46 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1038/261044a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/261044a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing