Issues

Summary: This Development at a Glance article provides an overview of the genomic organization, protein structure and regulation of Hox genes and our current understanding of their roles both during and after embryogenesis.

Summary: A Review discussing how the formation of a polarised dorsal aorta leads to the creation of a unique niche suitable for haematopoietic stem cell emergence within the floor of this vessel.

Summary: Intraventricular infusion of recombinant insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) in a Cdkn1c-deficient mouse, reveals that p57 partially mediates the differentiation effects of IGF2 independently of its role in cell-cycle progression.

Summary: Ccn2a promotes intervertebral disc regeneration in aged degenerated discs in zebrafish. Thus, CCN2 could be exploited for therapeutic intervention in degenerated human discs.

Summary: Hydrozoan spH2B variants containing SPKK motifs package sperm chromatin with limited compaction yet reduce accessibility and downregulate transcription. This could contribute to sperm buoyancy as a reproductive adaptation.

Highlighted Article: Spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) acquisition is likely specific to Phallusia mammillata embryos, whereas modulation of SAC efficiency in SAC proficient stages depends on cell fate and cell size.

Summary: Isolation of a temperature-sensitive mutation in insulin receptor could prove to be a valuable tool for the Drosophila genetic model of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.

Summary: Quantitative trait loci mapping identifies two genomic loci that epistatically modulate horizontal cell number in the mouse retina, uncovering a novel interaction between Neurog2 and Isl1 in the development of these cells.

Summary: This paper shows that canonical proneural bHLH complexes do not globally affect neurogenesis in C. elegans but have selective effects in specific linages on specific neuronal features.

Summary: Conditional induction of gene expression to disrupt MAPK signaling using the Tet-On system in sea urchin embryos demonstrates the utility of this system to investigate later stages of development in echinoderms.