GENETIC CONTROL OF PIGMENT DIFFERENTIATION IN SOMATIC CELLS

The term "genetic control" is meant to imply that not only is the process of cellular differentiation a species specific one and determined by the individual's own genetic constitution, but also in most cases the cells of a tissue which have differentiated in a similar fashion are related.

Abstract

The process of cellular differentiation may be studied by using the techniques of a variety of biological disciplines. Embryologists may approach problems of in? duction, cell recognition and contact, induced enzyme synthesis, etc. through use of biochemical or biophysical techniques, but often the powerful tool of analysis is left unused. One facet of this problem which might be particularly sus? ceptible to analysis by use of tech? niques is implicit in the title of this paper: the of pigment differenti? ation. By the term genetic control it is meant to imply that not only is the process of cellular differentiation a species specific one and determined by the individual's own constitution, but also in most cases the cells of a tissue which have differentiated in a similar fashion are related