Differentiation is a stable process that involves selective and irreversible changes in gene expression. Discuss this statement critically, focusing particularly, but not exclusively, on what we have learned from experiments involving nuclear transplantation.
1. Developmental Biology, 5th Edition, Scott Gilbert
2. Gurdon, J. B. (1999) Genetic reprogramming following nuclear transplantation in amphibia. Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology 10, 239-243 http://www.idealibrary.com/links/toc/scdb/10/3/0
3. Rideout, W.M. et al. (2001) Nuclear cloning and epigenetic reprogramming of the genome. Science 293, 1093-1098 http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/293/5532/1093
4. Reik, W. et al. (2001) Epigenetic reprogramming and mammalian development. Science 293, 1089-1093 http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/293/5532/1089
5. How fixed is the differentiated state? Lessons from heterokaryons. Trends in Genetics (1989) 5, 268-72
Science special issue on epigenetics: http://www.sciencemag.org/content/vol293/issue5532/#specialintro
Science web supplement on epigenetics with lots of very useful weblinks: http://www.sciencemag.org/feature/plus/sfg/resources/res_epigenetics.shtml
mjaw
10.x.2004