The Growth Plate (Biomedical and Health Research, 54)

Evidence generated by a number of genetic studies indicates that growth is regulated by a number of genes and that interference with their expression can have catastrophic effects on the well being of the whole organism. With the realization that multiple regulatory pathways exist, work is now focusing on identification of those signals that control the activity of the cells in the epiphyseal growth plate. A group of individuals included dental and orthopaedic researchers examining the regulation of cranialfacial growth and mineralization. The molecular biologists are probing skeletal morphogenesis, the development biologists are studying regulation of the cell cycle, angiogenesis and apoptosis. The group of biochemists is studying the function of collagenous and non-collagenous proteins and the role of growth factors in the cartilage matrix.