What is the Hedgehog Pathway

The Hedgehog pathway, first discovered in fruit flies as a segment polarity gene, plays a key role in cell differentiation and organ formation during embryonic development.¹ Hedgehog signaling normally remains inactive in adult tissues, but cancer cells can reactivate Hedgehog signaling in order to promote tumorigenesis.² Click on the links below to learn more.

• Discovery of the Hedgehog pathway
• The role of the Hedgehog pathway in embryonic development
• The role of the Hedgehog pathway in adult tissues