Thursday, July 21, 2005

Stem cells key to development of neck

Source: Guardian Unlimited - UK
Date: July 21, 2005

Summary:

British scientists have identified the cell machinery that gave animals a head start - by evolving a neck to go on their shoulders.
They have discovered that two kinds of embryo stem cell begin the process of fitting a neck to the shoulders, while attaching the appropriate muscles to the right bones. In effect, muscle and bone are not separate components but composite ones.