An Overview of Morphogens and their Signaling Pathway
Morphogens are signaling molecules that are released from particular areas of tissues, creating a concentration gradient that decreases in concentration further away from the source. This has implications for development, where cell and tissue differentiation is linked to the concentration of morphogens in the environment.
In one study, genetic mutations linked to congenital heart defects were shown to elevate the signaling of the Hedgehog morphogen family in mice, which then led to heart defects.
Bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP-7) is a morphogen that plays an important role in development of bone and cartilage. Image Credit: StudioMolekuul / Shutterstock.com