Evidence for regulation of growth, size and pattern in the developing chick limb bud.

This paper examines the hypothesis that the developing chick limb bud has mechanisms for regulating the control of growth, size and pattern. The tests included: surgical removal of selected parts of the limb field, X-irradiation, temperature shock and the manipulation of known limb organizer regions (removal of the apical ectodermal ridge, or the addition of an extra zone of polarizing activity). The results strongly support the idea that there are regulatory mechanisms controlling both the pattern and the size of the limb and suggest that they involve regulation of the growth rate via control of cell division throughout the embryonic period. Possible mechanisms are discussed.