Issues
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Cover image
Cover Image
Cover: A Drosophila testis stained using single molecule fluorescence in situ hybridization with probes against cycB RNA (green) and loopin-1 RNA (red), with DAPI (blue) marking DNA. Both RNAs are expressed in spermatocytes, the cell type undergoing an extended 3.5-day meiotic G2 prophase preceding the meiotic divisions. See Research article by Baker et al. (dev201709)
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RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS
PERSPECTIVE
INTERVIEWS
MEETING REVIEW
REVIEW
Chromatin-mediated silencing on the inactive X chromosome
Summary: This Review discusses the chromatin modifications associated with the mammalian female inactive X chromosome and their relevance to gene silencing and potential for therapeutic modulation.
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
NOTCH3 signalling controls human trophoblast stem cell expansion and differentiation
Summary: NOTCH3 signalling has a crucial role in early development of the human placenta by promoting expansion of its founder cell: the epithelial trophoblast stem cell.
RESEARCH REPORT
Sclerotome-derived PDGF signaling functions as a niche cue responsible for primitive erythropoiesis
Summary: Activation of platelet-derived growth factor signaling in sclerotome microenviroment facilitates zebrafish primitive erythropoiesis.
RESEARCH ARTICLES
Molecular compartmentalization in a syncytium: restricted mobility of proteins within the sea urchin skeletogenic mesenchyme
Highlighted Article: Transcription factors and effector proteins have limited mobility within the skeletogenic syncytium of the sea urchin embryo.
Cell-type-specific interacting proteins collaborate to regulate the timing of Cyclin B protein expression in male meiotic prophase
Summary: Timing of expression of conserved cell cycle regulator Cyclin B is controlled by multiple cell-type-specific proteins in Drosophila meiotic prophase male germ cells.
FRL and DAAM are required for lateral adhesion of interommatidial cells and patterning of the retinal floor
Summary: Two formin proteins, FRL and DAAM, are required for the sealing of the interommatidial cell lattice necessary for optical insulation of the photoreception units in the insect compound eye.
Netrin 1 directs vascular patterning and maturity in the developing kidney
Summary: Through genetic deletion, we disrupt netrin 1 signaling in the developing kidney and uncover previously unreported roles in mediating vascular patterning and maturity and proper kidney development.
Stromal netrin 1 coordinates renal arteriogenesis and mural cell differentiation
Summary: Netrin 1 secreted by cortical stromal progenitors in the kidney regulates vascular patterning of the renal arterial tree, as well as vascular smooth muscle cell differentiation via Klf4.
Axons of cortical basket cells originating from dendrites develop higher local complexity than axons emerging from basket cell somata
Summary: The morphological speciality of axons emerging from dendrites has been shown to be important during development: basket cell axons emerging from dendrites grow more rapidly and form denser terminal fields.
Mesenchyme governs hair follicle induction
Highlighted Article: Hair follicle identity is governed by mesenchymal cues and hair follicle inductive capacity is an intrinsic property of the naïve skin mesenchyme even before formation of the dermal condensate.
Dysregulation of the endoplasmic reticulum blocks recruitment of centrosome-associated proteins resulting in mitotic failure
Summary: In Drosophila, centrosomal maturation and endoplasmic reticulum condensation occur with similar timings at mitotic onset, and endoplasmic reticulum dysregulation leads to spindle weakening and failures of mitosis.
A chemo-mechanical model of endoderm movements driving elongation of the amniote hindgut
Summary: Formulation of a mathematical model to investigate the interplay between morphogen gradients and tissue mechanics in regulating the collective cell movements that drive hindgut morphogenesis in the chick embryo.
A model of replicating coupled oscillators generates naturally occurring cell networks
Highlighted Article: A mathematical model for growing networks by oscillations on nodes reproduces germline cyst topologies in invertebrates and reveals the nonintuitive effects of model parameters including cell-cell coupling on network structure.
The katanin A-subunits KATNA1 and KATNAL1 act co-operatively in mammalian meiosis and spermiogenesis to achieve male fertility
Summary: The microtubule-severing enzymes KATNA1 and KATNAL1 function collectively to regulate multiple aspects of microtubule dynamics during spermatogenesis.
Oocyte quality is enhanced by hypoglycosylated FSH through increased cell-to-cell interaction during mouse follicle development
Highlighted Article: Hypoglycosylated FSH21 improves the establishment of cell-to-cell communication during early folliculogenesis in mouse, which promotes increased follicular growth and enhanced oocyte quality.
Genome-wide identification of notochord enhancers comprising the regulatory landscape of the brachyury locus in mouse
Summary: Multi-omics assays of purified embryonic and in vitro-generated cells identify thousands of notochord enhancers including TNE2, which is essential for notochord function and tail development of the mouse embryo.
An elastic proteinaceous envelope encapsulates the early Arabidopsis embryo
Summary: The early Arabidopsis embryo is surrounded by a proteinaceous envelope that is distinct from the cuticle and embryo sheath.
TECHNIQUES AND RESOURCES
Accurate staging of chick embryonic tissues via deep learning of salient features
Summary: Saliency analyses show that a deep convolutional network trained to accurately classify chick embryos from images bases this classification on biologically relevant features.
Development presents... live stream of our Journal Meeting

Watch a session from Development’s Journal Meeting, Unconventional and Emerging Experimental Organisms in Cell and Developmental Biology which was live on the Node Monday 18 September.
Navigating a research career with a disability

Our two recent Perspectives articles explore the lived experiences of disabled scientists in our community. Kelsey L. Anbuhl and colleagues describe the lived experiences of five biologists who share the challenges and successes of undertaking a scientific career with a disability. Whereas Jack Darius Morgan reviews the literature exploring disabled scientists’ experiences in academia.
Focus on regeneration

Tissue regeneration is a fascinating phenomenon, but the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying regeneration remain incompletely understood. Here, Development has collated a series of articles showcasing some of the most recent advances in regenerative biology.
Keeping up with the Node: Lab meetings

Keep up with the Node 'Lab meeting' posts as the platform regularly highlights development and stem cell biology labs from across the globe and showcases research and researchers from the community. September featured the Kerosuo lab at the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, read their 'Lab meeting' article here.
Read & Publish Open Access publishing: what authors say

We have had great feedback from authors who have benefitted from our Read & Publish agreement with their institution and have been able to publish Open Access with us without paying an APC. Read what they had to say.