Introduction: the molecular genetic analysis of mouse development

This paper is an introduction of seven different papers presented in "Seminars in developmental biology" on Molecular Genetic Analysis of Mouse Development . The first paper, by Janet Rossant, describes very early mouse development. The second paper, by Frank Conlon and Rosa Beddington provide an intriguing and insightful comparison of gastrulation in Xenopus and mouse. In the third paper, Brigid Hogan reviews the roles of members of the TGF-β super family in mouse development. In the fourth paper, McMahon and his colleagues provide us with a clear overview of the role of the Wnt family members in mouse development. The fifth paper by Mark, Rijli and Chambon, expertly summarized The role of Hox genes in patterning the branchial region of the head. The sixth paper, by St-Onge, Tuello and Gruss, reviews the role of Pax genes in mouse development. The last paper by Elizabeth Robertson in a fascinating report that provides a description of how two growth factors, IGFI and IGFII and their receptor IGF1R interact to control the growth of the embryo and extraembryonic tissues.