Genetic control of skeletal development.

There are three major topics of skeleton biology. The first is skeleton patterning, which addresses how the shape and the location of each specific skeletal element is achieved. The second topic is cell differentiation in the skeleton. There are three specific cell types in the skeleton: the chondrocyte in cartilage, and the osteoblast and osteoclast in bone. The first two cell types are from mesenchymal origin while the third is from monocytic origin. The genes controlling skeleton patterning and cell differentiation are for the most part different. The third aspect of skeleton biology addresses the molecular control of the major function of the skeleton such as skeleton growth, bone mineralization and bone remodelling. Our current knowledge in each of these areas of skeleton biology will be presented in broad terms to set the course for other presentations during the symposium.