摘要: Publisher Summary This chapter describes the importance of gap junctions in patterning and development using various animal model systems mammalian heart. The discusses some specific developmental defects human that appear to result from junction gene perturbations. Gap play a major role during patterning, controlling cell proliferation growth, providing pathway regulating direct cell-to-cell exchange signals. Their starts with oocyte, but their influence persists through all stages as they are responsible for maintaining homeostasis adult. Antibody probes used immunohistochemical studies have proven valuable studying distribution developing organisms; greater overview provided has given many advantages over ultrastructural techniques employed previously. In combination dye transfer electrophysiological experiments, evidence junctional roles mounted. While much this is correlative, functional antibody specifically block cell-cell communication enabled several experimental be probed directly.