Grocott Lab

RIP John Gurdon

Very sad news, John Gurdon has died.

A developmental biologist's developmental biologist, Nobel prize winner

His work is the foundation of much of today's dev & stem cell bio.

An inspiration to many, including me. Always asking questions & wanting the answers

www.magd.cam.ac.uk/news/profess...

Hi Kevin, this looks great! I managed to get my attempt to work with images other than 8-bit, but it’s still not quite there. I’ll definately check this out - it looks very slick!

I’m happy to share some plugins I’ve been developping this summer: "Channels and Contrast" and LUTs Manager!
I can’t find new bugs and ideas by now so I need your help to please test them in your machines and report bugs, feedbacks and ideas! forum.image.sc/t/looking-fo...

If you’re applying to your dream lab for an internship/PhD/postdoc, always send a second email 1-2 weeks after the first one if you don’t hear back.

I promise we will be grateful rather than annoyed. My email inbox is a disaster and I’m quite junior - and very few of us have secretarial support

Independent Research Fellowships Leading to Tenured Faculty Positions | John Innes Centre The John Innes Centre (JIC), is a world leading centre of excellence in plant and microbial sciences based on the Norwich Research Park, UK. We are inviting applications from outstanding researchers…

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to give a seminar at the Fellows Conference, which will be held on 10 March 2026.

Candidates who win Fellowships will be offered a Tenure Track Group Leader position from the outset, initially for 5 years.

Find out more: www.jic.ac.uk/training-car...

Cell movements around the organizer/node after stage HH4.

Fate maps of the ectodermal (dorsal) layer of the organizer/node, based on Selleck and Stern (1991) (Selleck and Stern, 1991).

Cell movements of populations contributing to the organizer.

Stages of early chick development referred to in the text. The diagrams show some of the features used to classify the stages in relation to primitive streak formation.

We often talk about what signals does the organiser release. But have you ever stopped and asked what does it mean to be the organiser? What cells make up the organiser? Where do they go? What do they do?
Well this review by Claudio Stern may give you the answers:
doi.org/10.1016/j.cd...

The University of East Anglia seeks a Senior Research Associate in evolutionary ecology of animal behaviour and gut microbiome, with a salary of £38,784 to £46,049. Apply by 31 Oct 2025. Details: https://www.uea.ac.uk. #job

Derivation of embryonic stem cells across avian species - Nature Biotechnology Embryonic stem cells for chicken and seven other avian species are derived.

Derivation of embryonic stem cells across avian species - @stemcell.keck.usc.edu go.nature.com/4gLAGcZ

That’s a wrap on the Avian Model Systems Meeting at the Institute! 🐦✨

Scientists came together in KC to share discoveries & highlight the power of birds in advancing biology—from evolution to regeneration. Thanks to all who joined!💡🌍

#AvianModels2025 #Biology #Science

Cartoon of a speculative heterogenous cell population performing mesenchymal collective cell migration.

1/12 A very special moment for me! 🎉

My first paper as corresponding author—a @jcb.org Perspective on how contact-based decision-making in collective cell migration can itself encode blueprints for complex patterns and shapes.

rupress.org/jcb/article/...

#cellbio #devbio #science

🧵for details

Congratulations James et al, such a great tool!

🚨 Excited to introduce FuChi (Fucci chicken), the first avian cell cycle reporter line. Thank you to all those who contributed to putting this paper together. I really think it showcases the power and beauty of the chick embryo as a developmental biology model. 🐥 🥚 🔬 @roslininstitute.bsky.social

How is developmental speed regulated ? 🪰

Happy to share my PhD story from Schweisguth Lab @devstempasteur.bsky.social. Here we show that cellular NAD+ availability and redox constrain developmental speed in the fly eye.

www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

A big thanks to everyone involved!

A colorful mosaic of abstract spots arranged in squares that are derived from retinal research data.

Webvision Has A New Home!

www.webvision.pitt.edu/2025/09/22/w...

Schematic overview of our project. Dissection of Xenopus neural crest following morpholino knockdown of miRNA, then extraction of RNA for RNA-seq

Our new paper is out in Dev Biol! 🎉 🐸🧬
We show #miR-196a directs #neural crest fate in #Xenopus by repressing immature neural #ectoderm — evidence #miRNAs can potentially drive, not just fine-tune, early patterning
👉 Read more here: doi.org/10.1016/j.yd...
@devbiol.bsky.social @biouea.bsky.social

A microscope image showing a developing eye in a quail embryo. Actin is labelled in orange and nuclei are in cyan.

Bird’s eye view, literally. 🐦👁️ Glowing quail embryo eye for #FluorescenceFriday, #DevBio 🧪🔬

Hi bsky!

Do embryonic tissues have backup plans🔀? Gastruloids (model of body elongation) can build an axis through different cellular mechanisms when on adherent substrates instead of free floating. A case of developmental plasticity!

w/ A. Delahaye & ‪@bensteventon.bsky.social‬

shorturl.at/v01DO

Gastruloids employ an alternative morphogenetic route to generate a posterior body axis on adherent substrates https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.08.04.668470v1

We wrote this introductory review on how concepts from dynamical systems can help us understand developmental biology, hope it’s useful to somebody! It was a lot of fun to put together, and great to collaborate with brilliant colleagues across theory and experiments

Optical Microscopy Support Specialist | John Innes Centre An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Optical Microscopy Support Specialist to join the Bioimaging Platform at the John Innes Centre.

VACANCY - We’re seeking an Optical Microscopy Support Specialist to join our Bioimaging Platform, to help train users on light microscopes, collaborate on imaging projects and provide technical support.

www.jic.ac.uk/vacancies/op...

Closing date - 11 August 2025
Contract - Full time, indefinite

What started with many quail eggs and put me on stage in a chicken suit has now resulted in a preprint www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Microsurgery with human eye-lashes, laser ablations, great analysis and insightful theory from @neipel.bsky.social told us more about avian L/R symmetry breaking.

Last chance to tell the NIH if you think animal models are important for biomedical research! 👇👇👇👇

🧬🇬🇧 UK Evo-Devo Starter Pack go.bsky.app/SgRdF9T

Fellow ladies in science, as part of the disappearing species of international female scientists in France and perhaps every/elsewhere, I want to bring your special attention to our institute's open call for group leaders 👩‍🔬🦠🧪🔬🤓!!! Come join me in doing some coolicious science here 🙏!

🤓Curious about developmental biology? It’s not too late to register for YEN2025! Check out our amazing lineup of speakers in the post below👇🏻
@yen-network.bsky.social @the-node.bsky.social @socdevbio.bsky.social

🏆Calling all developmental biology enthusiasts! Submit your most stunning images capturing the beauty of development for a chance to win and to get featured! 📅Deadline: 1st May 2025!
#YEN2025 @yen-network.bsky.social @socdevbio.bsky.social

Figure 1 Expression of putative Six1 targets.

Unheard candidate genes for deafness-related syndromes

Read this Research Highlight showcasing work from Ramya Ranganathan, Andrea Streit and colleagues @ccrb27.bsky.social @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social:

journals.biologists.com/dev/article/...

And cite the model organism databases and other resources you use!

Your yearly reminder to acknowledge the core facilities you use and their staff scientists in your papers. These scientists are a crucial part of the scientific ecosystem and to continue to exist they need tangible credit for their work. Plus their associated expertise adds credibility to your work.