Perturbations in morphogen gradients induce budding in Hydra

Abstract

Lateral grafting of small pieces of midregion tissue into different levels of the hydra body column was done to assess the influence of the host hypostome and basal disc (or, of the underlying morphogenetic gradients) in inducing secondary structures in the transplanted tissue; and also to identify the role, if any, of the induced secondary structures (or, perturbed morphogen gradients) on the pattern of the host. The same midpiece tissue differentiated to a basal disc when grafted near the host hypostome, and to a small hypostome with tentacles when grafted near the host basal disc. Chimeras with induced secondary basal discs showed a phenomenal increase in budding compared to the controls and to the chimeras having induced hypostomes. These results indicate a positive cross-reaction between both organizing regions during patterning in hydra.