Identifying Key Genetic Regions for Cell Sheet Morphogenesis on Chromosome 2L Using a Deficiency Screen in Dorsal Closure.

Cell sheet morphogenesis is essential for metazoan development and homeostasis of animal form - it contributes to developmental milestones including gastrulation, neural tube closure, heart and palate formation and to tissue maintenance during wound healing. Dorsal closure, a well-characterized stage in embryogenesis and a model for cell sheet morphogenesis, is a remarkably robust process during which coordination of conserved gene expression patterns and signaling cascades regulate the cellular shape changes and movements. New 'dorsal closure genes' continue to be discovered due to advances in imaging and genetics.

Identifying Genetic Players in Cell Sheet Morphogenesis Using a Deficiency Screen for Genes on Chromosome 2R Involved in Dorsal Closure.

Cell sheet morphogenesis characterizes key developmental transitions and homeostasis, in vertebrates and throughout phylogeny, including gastrulation, neural tube formation and wound healing. Dorsal closure, a process during embryogenesis, has emerged as a model for cell sheet morphogenesis. ∼140 genes are currently known to affect dorsal closure and new genes are identified each year.