During retinal development, seven retinal cell types are specified from a common pool of retina progenitor cells (RPCs). Several proneural basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcriptional regulators, including Atoh7 and Neurod1, direct the intrinsic programming of RPCs but how do individual bHLH factors influence RPC fate? On p. 541, William Klein and colleagues ask whether replacing one bHLH gene with another redirects the fate of RPCs. Previously, the researchers showed that Neurod1 can replace the function of Atoh7 in specifying retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), which suggests that Atoh7-expressing RPCs are pre-programmed to produce RGCs. Now, they report that insertion of Atoh7 into the Neurod1 locus reprogrammes Neurod1-expressing RPCs, which normally produce amacrine and photoreceptor cells, into RGCs. Thus, Atoh7 acts dominantly to specify an RGC fate. The researchers also identify an Atoh7-dependent enhancer within its target gene Nrxn3 that is used by Atoh7 but not by Neurod1 in the...
The Company of Biologists Workshops
For the last 15 years, our publisher, The Company of Biologists, has provided an apt environment to inspire biology and support biologists through our Workshops series. Read about the evolution of the Workshop series and revisit JEB's experience with hosting the first Global South Workshop.
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 30 May 2025.
Meet our 2025 Pathway to Independence (PI) fellows
We are delighted to announce our third cohort of PI fellows - researchers whom we will be supporting as they transition from postdoc to Principal Investigator. Read about the eight talented fellows chosen, whom we're excited to be working with as they navigate the job market.
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.
the Node: Have your say
Our community site, the Node, is conducting a user survey about the content and the design of the site. Help us shape the Node's future and thank you for being a part of the Node over the last 15 years.
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