The contribution of branching morphogenesis to kidney development and disease

The basic architecture of the kidney is established during early embryonic development through iterative branching of the ureteric budEpithelial–mesenchymal cell interactions at the termini of the branching epithelium determine when and how many nephrons are generatedGenetic and/or environmental perturbations during kidney development can alter the developmental processes that direct branching and nephron formation and could, hence, underlie congenital and acquired nephron deficitsNephron number in humans is determined at fetal stages and is emerging as a critical factor that influences adult health