| The study of developmental genetics has been successful in unraveling many of the molecular and genetic networks that govern pattern formation, tissue specification and differentiation. The Drosophila wing has been paramount to studying the complex interactions of numerous developmental signaling pathways such as, Hedgehog, Bone Morphogenetic Proteins (BMP), Epidermal Growth Factor, Notch and Wingless. One focus in our lab has been the BMP dependent specification and maintenance of the posterior crossvein (PCV) in the developing Drosophila pupal wing. PCV development is particularly sensitive to changes in BMP signaling and is therefore a unique model for the identification and characterization of novel genes required for the initiation and maintenance of BMP signaling. Despite the fact that previous studies in both vertebrates and invertebrates have led to the identification and characterization of a number of BMP specific ligands, receptors and intra and extracellular modulators required for signaling, many questions remain unanswered, suggesting novel regulators of BMP signaling have yet to be discovered. In an effort to identify such factors we designed and conducted a forward genetic screen combining the use of classical mutagenesis and modern genetic tools. |
