X-chromosome inactivation
In the XY sex-determination system, gene dosage mechanisms are required in individuals with XX chromosomes to compensate for excessive expression of X-linked genes. Mary Lyon first proposed that X-chromosomes are randomly inactivated in 1961, and subsequent work over the decades that followed has made significant progress in understanding the mechanism of X-chromosome inactivation (XCI). These advances include the discovery of the long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) Xist that has a crucial role in gene silencing.
The EMBO workshop ‘X-chromosome inactivation: New insights on its 60th anniversary’ was originally scheduled for 2021 to recognise 60 years since Mary Lyon put forward her hypothesis. Although delayed until 2023, the meeting brought together researchers from the different fields that emerged from this central idea, such as allelic choice, epigenetics and chromosome regulation. This collection highlights recent review-type articles covering these topics, as well as a Meeting Review of the workshop itself. Development is keen to continue supporting these fields and welcomes submissions from the community.
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.
