A role for cytoplasmic determinants in the early development of several organisms has been suggested by results from a variety of studies. Ideally, a demonstration of the existence of determinants requires their transfer between regions of an embryo, but this has been achieved only rarely (see chapters by Nusslein-Volhard and Jackie, this volume). In many cases, the existence of cytoplasmic determinants is inferred indirectly, for example where procedures that disturb the asymmetric arrangement of the cytoplasm also disrupt the normal allocation of cell types, or where a correspondence exists between the prospective fate of a cell and the cytoplasmic endowment it has received (see chapters by Gurdon, Schierenberg, Strome and Kalthoff, this volume). In these latter examples, a heterogeneity within the cell may indeed exist and influence further development, but its nature may preclude direct testing by cytoplasmic transfer, or a regulatory capacity may exist whereby the localization and/or expression...
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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