Otx2 is a paired-type homeobox gene expressed at every step of tetrapod head development – in the epiblast (EP), the distal anterior visceral endoderm, the anterior mesendoderm, the anterior neuroectoderm (AN),the entire forebrain and midbrain, and the cephalic mesenchyme. However,because Otx2 is essential for mouse head development, it is difficult to distinguish the functions that it performs at these different stages. In two papers in this issue, Aizawa and colleagues describe the enhancers responsible for Otx2 expression in the EP and the AN(p. 3307), and in the forebrain and midbrain (p. 3319). The EP enhancer is active in the EP at E5.5 and the AN enhancer is active in the AN from E7.0 until E8.5. By mutating the AN enhancer in vivo, the researchers found that it is required for the maintenance of the AN during development. Unexpectedly, although the AN gives rise to the forebrain...
History of our journals
As our publisher, The Company of Biologists, turns 100 years old, read about Development’s journey and highlights from some its first issues, and explore the history of each of our sister journals: Journal of Cell Science, Journal of Experimental Biology, Disease Models & Mechanisms and Biology Open.
Call for papers – Lifelong Development: the Maintenance, Regeneration and Plasticity of Tissues
Development invites you to submit your latest research to our upcoming special issue – Lifelong Development: the Maintenance, Regeneration and Plasticity of Tissues. This issue will be coordinated by Guest Editors Meritxell Huch (Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Germany) and Mansi Srivastava (Harvard University and Museum of Comparative Zoology, USA), working alongside our team of academic Editors. Submit your articles by 15 May 2025.
A case for broadening our view of mechanism in developmental biology
In this Perspective, B. Duygu Özpolat and colleagues survey researchers on their views on what it takes to infer mechanism in developmental biology. They examine what factors shape our idea of what we mean by ‘mechanism’ and suggest a path forward that embraces a broad outlook on the diversity of studies that advance knowledge in our field.
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