ABSTRACT
Concentration gradients of peptides are ubiquitous in early developmental biology, where they provide a key influence in regulating cell behaviour. Signals emitted from specific locations in an embryo spread across adjacent groups of cells, determining their differentiation and the location of tissues [1-4]. Recent experiments
have found gradients of proteins in vivo during the early development of the embryo [5]. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms leading to cell differentiation and tissue development still need to be elucidated. An example of note would be the gradient of fibroblast growth factor 10 (Fgf10) forming the somite of a mouse embryo [6]. With the certainty that in vivo gradients are a key mechanism in regulating cell fate, specific experiments applying surface gradients can be designed to probe the early stages of embryonic development.
