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Pointing the Finger
09 August 2016

Pointing the Finger

When babies are born, a midwife counts their fingers and toes. This is because the genes that ensure they grow in the right places also control the growth of many other body tissues, so extra or missing digits can occasionally be a sign of more severe health problems. These genes are tightly controlled and elaborately interlink. Recent research studied how genes regulate digit growth in mice. On the left is the forelimb (top) and hindlimb (bottom) of a normal mouse. When scientists removed a gene called Gata6 that controls limb development, the digits were normal, but when they partially removed (second left) or fully removed one called Gli3, (far right) there was a small extra digit. Removal of Gata6 and partial removal of Gli3 together exacerbated this and resulted in a full extra digit (second right), showing that the two genes work together to regulate how digits form.

Written by Esther Redhouse White

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BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences until Jul 2023, it is now run independently by a dedicated team of scientists and writers. The website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biology, and its influence on medicine. The ever-growing archive of more than 4000 research images documents over a decade of progress. Explore the collection and see what you discover. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.

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