Definition of developmental locus property in terms of space-dependent changes in dynamics of developmant mechanims: the postmitotic neuronal migration in the developmental central nervous system

RAPACIOLI M; GIGOLA S; D'ATTELLIS C; FERRÁN JL; PEREYRA-ALFONSO S; SANCHEZ V; SCICOLONE G; FLORES V

Mathematics and simulation with biological applications

World Scientific and Engineering Society Press

Año: 2001; p. 196 - 201

Developmental changes can be considered as the net result of specific cell behaviors, the so-called developmental mechanisms, operating simultaneous and interactively. The organized patterns of differentiated cells and tissues, typical of all living organisms, results from the organized operation of developmental mechanisms. A central hypothesis in Developmental Biology proposes that the space-time organization of developmental cell behaviors depends on the organizing ability of developmental gradients. The present paper introduces the notion of ?locus properties? to define the differential effects a developmental gradient exert onto developmental cell behaviors and demonstrates that this notion can be properly applied to define distinctive space-dependent differences a quantifiable parameter exhibits along the axis defined by a developmental gradient. This paper proposes that, from a theoretical point of view, a developmental gradient can be basically considered as an informative entity installing an intrinsic reference system and serving the function of assigning locus properties along its spatial axis.