Branching Morphogenesis

Branching morphogenesis is a process of tissue formation where clonal progenitor cells divide, migrate and differentiate to create a three-dimensional tissue structure. This type of tissue formation is commonly seen in plants and in certain types of organs in animals such as the mammary glands, salivary glands and bronchial tree. Branching morphogenesis is essential for the development of proper organ shape and functioning. In addition, it has been used to develop new therapies and treatments, such as those involving stem cell transplants and tissue engineering. It is also important to the research of diseases, such as cancer, cystic fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.