Morphogen gradients play a pivotal role in most phases of developmental patterning. To ensure proper patterning, reproducible gradients are established under diverse environmental conditions and genetic backgrounds.

 buffer fluctuations in gene dosage or environmental conditions are reffered as 'robustness'
 generating the spatial distribution of morphogens

References

 Kerszberg M. Noise, delays, robustness, canalization and all that. Curr Opin Genet Dev. 2004 Aug;14(4):440-5. PMID: #15261662#

 Eldar A, Shilo BZ, Barkai N. Elucidating mechanisms underlying robustness of morphogen gradients. Curr Opin Genet Dev. 2004 Aug;14(4):435-9. PMID: #15261661#

 Kerszberg M. Noise, delays, robustness, canalization and all that. Curr Opin Genet Dev. 2004 Aug;14(4):440-5. PMID: #15261662#

 Eldar A, Shilo BZ, Barkai N. Elucidating mechanisms underlying robustness of morphogen gradients. Curr Opin Genet Dev. 2004 Aug;14(4):435-9. PMID: #15261661#

 Tabata T. Genetics of morphogen gradients. Nat Rev Genet. 2001 Aug;2(8):620-30. PMID: #11483986#