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Abstract
The two major components of the kidney, the collecting system and the nephron, have
different developmental histories. The collecting system arises by the reiterated
branching of a simple epithelial tube, while the nephron forms from a cloud of mesenchymal
cells that coalesce into epithelial vesicles. Each develops into a morphologically
complex and highly differentiated structure, and together they provide essential filtration
and resorption functions. In this review, we will consider their embryological origin
and the genes controlling their morphogenesis, patterning, and differentiation, with
a focus on recent advances in several areas.
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