Developmental biology is the branch of biological sciences that investigates the processes by which organisms grow, differentiate, and acquire their form from fertilization to adulthood and often through regeneration and aging. It integrates molecular genetics, cell biology, genomics, and systems biology to elucidate mechanisms such as cell fate specification, pattern formation, morphogenesis, and organogenesis. Developmental biology examines regulatory gene networks, signaling pathways (e.g., Wnt, Hedgehog, Notch, TGF-β), epigenetic modifications, and mechanical forces that coordinate spatial and temporal control of gene expression and cellular behavior, providing a framework for understanding congenital disorders, tissue regeneration, and evolutionary changes in body plans.
When a woman becomes pregnant, the outcome of that pregnancy depends on many things—including a crucial event that happened while she was still growing inside her own mother's womb. It depends on the quality of the egg cells ...
Cell & Microbiology
Sep 24, 2025
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157
CISPA researcher Sarath Sivaprasad, together with Hui-Po Wang and Mario Fritz from CISPA and other colleagues from HIPS, has developed an AI system that can automatically detect abnormalities in zebrafish embryo development. ...
Biotechnology
Sep 22, 2025
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27
Scientists have shown that two previously separate modes of plant branching regulation can be connected, revealing the most complete picture yet of how plants control their architecture.
Plants & Animals
Sep 19, 2025
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46
How did digits evolve? While it is clear that they derive from genetic programs already present in fish, their precise origin remains a matter of debate. An international team led by the University of Geneva (UNIGE) with ...
Evolution
Sep 17, 2025
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243
How do cells know what they should become as the body develops? Biological development depends crucially on spatial patterns: the lines that eventually give rise to segments, organs, or markings like stripes and spots. Yet ...
Evolution
Sep 16, 2025
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155
Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has revolutionized modern biology, allowing scientists to study the expression of genes from thousands of individual cells at the same time. This technique helps researchers identify ...
Cell & Microbiology
Sep 15, 2025
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32
Plant stem cells are crucial for the world's food supply, animal feed, and fuel production. They lay the foundation for how plants grow. Yet, much about these mysterious building blocks remains unknown. Previous analyses ...
Molecular & Computational biology
Sep 15, 2025
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21
By tracking the fate of individual embryonic stem cells, researchers have found that endoderm cells—early embryonic cells that give rise to tissues such as the gut and lungs—originate from multiple converging developmental ...
Cell & Microbiology
Sep 10, 2025
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19
The maternal–fetal interface is the meeting point for maternal and fetal cells during pregnancy. It's long been understood as an area of conflict, where the placenta—a fetal organ—invades the mother to access nutrients.
Evolution
Sep 8, 2025
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62
Caltech researchers have developed a powerful new method for creating embryo-like structures from stem cells that could transform how we study fertility.
Cell & Microbiology
Sep 8, 2025
0
25
