Formation of Boundaries in the Lateral Plate Mesoderm

The lateral plate mesoderm (LPM) is an embryonic tissue which contributes to the development of organs such as the heart and kidneys. The boundaries between these organs are regulated by spatially restricted patterns of gene expression, and misregulation of those boundaries leads to catastrophic developmental defects. Little is known about the complex gene regulatory networks which govern these boundaries. This thesis presents new methods to explore these boundaries, and has identified novel gene targets and spatial domains within the LPM. Our findings contribute new insights to the complex development of embryonic boundaries.