growth/size/body
• 16% of mutants are smaller at birth and do not attain normal weight as adults
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skeleton
• about 93% of mutants develop an extra sternebra between the sixth (T6) and seventh (T7) thoracic vertebrae
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• in 69% of mutants, the 12th rib is transformed anteriorly to the identity of the 11th rib; the length of the 12th rib is almost equal to the length of the 11th rib, with the cartilage and bony parts of the rib of equal length as seen in the 11th rib
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• mutants have a fully developed extra pair of ribs on the first lumbar vertebrae (L1)
• 21% of mutants develop extra ribs on the seventh cervical vertebrae (C7)
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• anterior transformations in the thoracic vertebral column
• about 93% of mutants develop an extra sternebra between the sixth (T6) and seventh (T7) thoracic vertebrae
• 8 pairs of ribs attach to the sternum instead of 7
• in 50% of mutants, the 9th ribs also attach to the sternum contralaterally
• these abnormalities indicate that T7, T8 and T9 are transformed anteriorly
• T13 becomes the transitional vertebra, suggesting that T10, T11, and T12 are transformed anteriorly
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• in 14% of mutants, the anterior tuberculum that is normally attached to the 6th cervical vertebra (C6) is attached to the 5th cervical vertebra (C5) and there is no anterior tuberculum on C6, indicating that C5 and C6 are transformed posteriorly to the identity of C6 and C7
• 21% of mutants develop extra ribs on C7 and these ectopic ribs are fused with the first rib attached to the first thoracic verterbra, suggesting C7 transformation into T1
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• in the lumbar region, mutants either show a rudimentary rib or a fully developed pair of ribs on the first lumbar vertebra (L1), indicating that L1 is transformed anteriorly into the 13th thoracic vertebra (T13)
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behavior/neurological
limb grasping
(
J:85471
)
• about 30% of mutants show abnormal contraction and clasping reflex of the fore- and hindlimbs upon suspension
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