Developmental Biology

Neural fold fusion proceeds bidirectionally from a central “pinch point”

#DBfeature 🐟

Fold-and-fuse neurulation in zebrafish requires vangl2

Anterior neural tube closure is delayed and abnormal in 🐟embryos lacking PCP gene vangl2

by Jacalyn MacGowan, Mara Cardenas, Margot Kossmann Williams
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

A text flow chart about the inclusion of planetary health in developmental biology education. In red: "co-design codevelop a workshop on planetary health" with a double way arrow between students and educators. Red arrow towards purple box "workshop delivered by educator and students", with a contribution in green of an arrow from "consultation with indigenous colleagues". Blue: "pre-class poll" and "post=class poll".

#DBfeature 🌍

Planetary Health and Indigenous perspectives into the discipline of Developmental Biology exposes students to critical and global challenges that emerging scientists will need to address.

By Sonja McKeown, Marcus Mohr, Tara Moynihan, Beau Cubillo, Liza Barbour

tinyurl.com/yc2m6ncw

Timeline of key genetics discoveries in autism spectrum disorder.

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In our recent article, researchers explored the intersection of developmental biology and social change, offering strategies to teach autism genetics through a neurodiversity-affirming lens.
-Patra, Aindri H., Katherine Bonefas, Eirene Markenscoff-Papadimitriou.
doi.org/10.1016/j.yd...

Neural crest contribution to craniofacial structures and phenotypic variation

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Bones, brains, and bias—neural crest cell contribution to craniofacial structure

Active Learning Assignments for craniofacial perception & normal phenotypic variation

by Jeffrey Carmichael, Diane Darland et al
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Schematic summary of developmental stages in the formation of amniotic ectoderm and extraembryonic mesoderm in mouse and human

#DBfeature #EvoDevo

Exploring early extraembryonic cells of epiblast origin: Questions on human amniotic ectoderm & extraembryonic mesoderm

How does cellular density regulate the sequential specification of non-neural ectoderm?

by Shota Nakanoh
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

🚨Next DevBioConnect on the way‼️
Developmental Biology Author webinar

by Dr. Alexa Burger & Dr. Robert Huebner

🗓️ Feb 10th, 2026
⏰ 11 am–12 pm CST

To Register
forms.gle/4J192L42y6sg...

@socdevbio.bsky.social
@aburger2009.bsky.social

Coilin bodies in zebra finch can lie at centromere regions of LBCs and contain cohesin proteins, markers of centromeric protein bodies

#DBfeature 🐦

Coilin-containing nuclear biomolecular condensates in zebra finch Taeniopygia guttata growing oocytes

The coilin condensates reveal components of the nucleoli and centromeric protein bodies

by Svetlana Galkina et al
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Identifying enhancers in the chicken embryo.

#DBfeature 🐣

With the rise of omics data, identifying tissue-specific enhancers is easier than ever—but validation is key. Ruth M. Williams discusses why the chicken embryo is the ideal in vivo sandbox for testing human regulatory elements in our recent review.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Multiplex fluorescent in situ hybridization gene expression for Col2a1, Bmp2, Bmp4, Wnt2 on untreated tracheas, HH36.5

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BMP and WNT signaling are involved in tracheal cartilage development in chicken embryos

COL2A1 co-localises with BMP2 but not with BMP4 in the tracheal cartilages

by Romman Muntzar, Tamara Anne Franz-Odendaal, et al
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

AK7 deletion causes an impairment of fluid flow and ciliary function. (A) Representative images of MCCs stained with anti-AK7 (magenta, white) and anti-acetylated tubulin (cyan) antibodies together with phalloidin (green) showing strong ciliary staining in controls (Cas9 alone or gRNA alone) that is missing in AK7 KO cells (Cas9 + gRNAs). Scale is 5 μm.

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Centriolar defects underlie a primary ciliary dyskinesia phenotype in an adenylate kinase 7 deficient ciliated epithelium

By Jennifer Sheridan, Aline Grata, Julia Dorr, Eve E. Suva, Enzo Bresteau, Linus R. Mitchell, Osama Hassan, Brian Mitchell

tinyurl.com/c88cax5z

Knockdown of centralspindlin results in binucleate anchor cells. LIN-12/Notch reporter lin-12::mNeongreen (yellow) and Notch ligand LAG-2/DSL nuclear reporter lag-2::H2B::::mTurquoise (cyan) expression at mid L2 (A,B), mid L3 (A',B') and late L3 (A",B") in EV(RNAi) (A-A") and zen-4(RNAi) (B-B") treated larvae. White arrowheads denote AC nuclei. Clear arrowheads denote VU nuclei. Asterisks denote primary vulva cell nuclei expressing lag-2::H2B::mTurquoise which is also expressed in some ventral cord neurons.

#DBfeature 🪱

Centralspindlin is required for C. elegans anchor cell specification, vulval induction and morphogenesis, with different requirements during postembryonic gonad development compared to early embryogenesis

By Tatsuya Kato, Olga Skorobogata, Christian E. Rocheleau

tinyurl.com/ywjmjsj9

Efna1 and Efna2 loss leads to shorter radial bundles during cochlear development

#DBfeature👂

EPHRIN-A1 and -A2 act as positive growth factors for developing spiral ganglion radial bundles

Loss of Efna1 and Efna2 leads to defects in radial bundle extension in vivo

by Mansa Gurjar, Thomas Coate
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

(A) The adult Drosophila ovary is composed of 15–20 ovarioles that contain progressively developing egg chambers. Each egg chamber consists of a germline cyst (15 nurse cells and one oocyte; blue) that is surrounded by somatic follicle cells (purple), which is produced in the anterior germarium. (B) Each germarium contains 2-to-3 germline stem cells (GSCs, dark blue) that are maintained by a somatic niche that is primarily composed of cap cells (green). GSCs divide to self-renew and give rise to a cystoblast that will undergo four mitoses with incomplete cytokinesis, generating a germline cyst. GSC and germline cysts are identified by the morphology of the fusome (pink), an ER-like organelle that changes morphology with differentiation. Germline cysts are surrounded by somatic follicle cells (purple) to form a follicle that ultimately buds from the germarium. (C,D) Ovariole (C) and germaria (D) from ERR::GFP.FSTF females showing the expression pattern of ERR::GFP.FSTF based on anti-GFP staining (green). α-Spectrin (magenta), fusome; LamC (magenta), nuclear lamina; DAPI (blue), DNA. Scale bar for (c), 100 μm; scale bar for (d), 10 μm. The germarium (G) and egg chamber stages are labeled in panel (c).

#DBfeature 🪰

Estrogen-related receptor is required in adult Drosophila females for germline stem cell maintenance

By Anna Zike, Madison Abel, Sophie Fleck, Emily DeWitt, Lesley Weaver

tinyurl.com/3wfmkcfc

Long-term live imaging of preimplantation embryos expressing endogenously tagged YAP-miRFP670

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Geometric, cell cycle & maternal-to-zygotic transition-associated YAP dynamics during preimplantation embryo development

YAP behavior depends on cell cycle-nuclei volume dynamics

by Madeleine Chalifoux, Eszter Posfai et al
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

This illustration indicates the development of the main electric organ in the adult electric eel. Progenitor cells located in the ventral terminus of the main electric organ segregate and migrate dorsally, forming multinuclear syncytium and layer structure. The NKA ion pump begins to be expressed after the layer formation. The syncytia increase the dorsoventral thickness, differentiate into mature electrocytes, and contribute to the generation of high-voltage discharges via ion transporters, including NKA

#DBfeature ⚡️

Ventral-to-dorsal model for electric organ development of Electrophorus eel

By S Senarat, A Matsumoto, T Nagasawa, S Sakaki, D Tsuzuki, K Uchida, M Kuwahara, M Nikaido, E Hondo, A Iida

tinyurl.com/7c7a266v

The positions of canal neuromasts, the lateral line canal, and bones of the facial complex are anatomically integrated.

#DBfeature 🐟
Review

Integration of the sensory and skeletal systems: A classical perspective on neuromast-bone interactions

Osteogenic potential of neuromast organs

by Alyssa Hamm, Joshua Gross
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Cartoon of a white pregnant mouse being injected with SAG. Diagram of the developing tongue in control conditions, with mesenchymal cell sin blue and myoblasts in red, and in the SAG condition, with a visible cleft between the my blast cells.

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Embryonic exposure to Smoothened Agonist overactivates the Hh signaling pathway, affecting the cell cycle and inhibiting proliferation, leading to cleft tongue

By C Mao, Y Jiang, Z Li, W Zhou, Y Lai, C Wang, M Lu, W Chen

tinyurl.com/zeeb95t8

RA-deficient DM have a reduction in the number of Nkx2.5+ CMs at 48 hpf

#DBfeature 🐟🫀

Tbx1-dependent and independent pathways promote six gene expression downstream of retinoic acid signaling to determine cardiomyocyte number in zebrafish

by Tiffany Duong, Joshua Waxman et al
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Check out the perfect ABT structure in this graphic abstract.

"Pax9 in needed to form teeth in mammals AND you see it in the mouth of fishes
BUT some fish don't form teeth
THEREFORE Pax9 was originally used in mouth development rather than teeth."

🚨Introducing DevBioConnect‼️
Developmental Biology launches a new author webinar series showcasing recent publications, presented by the authors

🗓️ Jan 13 • Feb 10 • Mar 10, 2026
⏰ 11am–12pm CST

To Register
www.sdbonline.org/meetings
Or📄 See flyer for details

@socdevbio.bsky.social

Cartoon of Pax9 expression (purple) during facial development in mouse (left) and zebrafish (right). Text: Mammals. Pax9 is expressed In tooth-forming mesenchyme around the mouth. Required for tooth formation in mouse and human. Fish. Pax9 is also expressed in oral mesenchyme in fishes. But many fish do not form oral teeth. Vestigial expression or divergent function? Result: pax9 is required for formation of upper jaw bones and barbels in zebrafish, but dispensable for non-oral teeth. Support ancestral function in building peri-oral structures from condensed mesenchyme rather than a specific requirement for teeth

#DBfeature 🐠

Pax9 has a broader role in initiating development of mesenchymal structures around the mouth during zebrafish development

By Sandhya Paudel, Sarah McLeod, Stefani Gjorcheska, Lindsey Barske

tinyurl.com/yc3jfpux

Shh signaling regulates both sensory and non-sensory development in the cochlea.

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Review

Multifaceted roles of sonic hedgehog signaling in mammalian inner ear development

Shh confers cochlear apical identity and regulates tonotopy establishment.

by Tianli Qin, Marianne Bronner
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

#DBfeature

Wish our authors and readers a Happy Holiday & a fruitful 2026!🥳🥳🥳

ICYMI by @rohner.bsky.social et al.

Ovary characterization revealed unique characteristics in cavefish compared to surface fish. (A) Representative H&E-stained ovary sections from three fish populations at 500 to 600 dpf. Scale bar, 300 μm. Different stages of oocytes (stage Ib, II and III) are labeled. (B) Oocyte size (diameter) measurement in different developmental stages of surface fish, Pachón and Molino. (C) Single-cell UMAP plot of the adult fish ovaries from A. mexicanus. Cells are color-coded by computationally determined cell clusters. (D) DEGs between surface fish and cavefish in eight annotated cell clusters. (E) Dot plot of gene expression in follicular somatic cells. Selected genes are involved in hormone responses, synthesis or OXPHOS pathways. (F) PCA plot of transcriptomic profiles of oocytes at different size categories in three fish populations.

#DBfeature 🐠

scRNA-seq reveals a follicular cell population with elevated ovarian development genes in cavefish, which continue reproducing during starvation

By F Xia, A Santacruz, D Wu, S Bertho, E Fritz, P Morales-Sosa, S McKinney, SH Nowotarski, N Rohner

tinyurl.com/yvp772y4

Vascular development in the early chick embryo

#DBfeature 🐣

Unravelling early hematoendothelial development through the chick model: Insights and future perspectives

by Lydia Pouncey, Gi Fay Mok @gifaymok.bsky.social

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

TFlux reliably reports relative cell cortex tension in vivo

#DBfeature 🐸

A non-invasive imaging-based technique for assessing cell interface mechanics during PCP-dependent polarization in the cortex

by Shinuo Weng, John Wallingford et al @shinuoweng.bsky.social @jbwallingford.bsky.social
tinyurl.com/2sa8wefy

Research History of Developmental Genetics with Animal Models

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Positive-negative Selection: The counterselection breakthrough that conventionalized reverse genetics in the mouse

by Anthea Letsou
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Phenotypic landscape of the velocity of the TS reaction (the rate-limiting step in DNA synthesis) as a function of activity of MTHFR and GNMT. A, wild-type conditions. Yellow sphere indicated wild-type; white spheres are mutations that lower the activity of the enzymes to 70 % and 35 % of wild-type. B, vitamin B12 deficiency (which lowers the activity of MS). A B12 deficiency destabilizes the TS reaction and the effects of mutations that increase TS activity are enhanced. (GNMT, glycine-N-methyltransferase; MTHFR, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase; TS, thymidylate synthase).

#DBfeature

Cryptic genetic variation can be revealed by mutations or environmental factors that destabilize homeostatic mechanisms, producing phenotypic variants as a substrate for selection

By H. Frederik Nijhout

tinyurl.com/4dww8f3h
#SpecialIssue in research that transformed #DevBio

Elizabeth Hay's groundbreaking observations on amphibian limb regeneration

#DBfeature 🦎

How Betty Hay's findings significantly advanced the fields of cell plasticity and regenerative biology

by Alejandra Beltrán-Rivera, José García-Arrarás
tinyurl.com/55nhr4uv

#SpecialIssue on research that transformed #DevBio