Issues
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Cover image
Cover Image
Cover: A dissected third instar Drosophila larva stained for sarcomeric ZASP-GFP (green) and filamentous actin (phalloidin, red) shows the body wall muscles from the thoracic to abdominal segments. The mirror image (right) is rendered to emphasize the muscles and subcellular divisions. See Research article by Zapater i Morales et al. (dev201194 ).
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RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS
EDITORIAL
INTERVIEW
MEETING REVIEW
Cell state transitions: catch them if you can
Summary: An overview of The Company of Biologists 2022 workshop on 'Cell State Transitions: Approaches, Experimental Systems and Models' tackling emerging concepts in cell state and fate specification.
PRIMER
The role of O-GlcNAcylation in development
Summary: This Primer introduces the role of O-GlcNAcylation, an essential post-translational modification, in stem cells and development.
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
Translational landscape in human early neural fate determination
Summary: This study reveals the translational landscape during early human neural differentiation and provides insights into the regulation of cell fate determination at the translational level.
STEM CELLS AND REGENERATION
Pax4-Ghrelin mediates the conversion of pancreatic ε-cells to β-cells after extreme β-cell loss in zebrafish
Summary: A previously unreported role for pancreatic ε-cells in zebrafish reveals that the conversion of ε-cells to β-cells can serve as a source of regeneration after extreme β-cell loss.
Hox genes are crucial regulators of periosteal stem cell identity
Summary: During aging, Hox expression is reduced, coincident with the decrease in skeletal stem cell number. Hoxa10 is a pro-stem cell factor and its overexpression partially restores bone regeneration in aged mice.
Foxm1 regulates cardiomyocyte proliferation in adult zebrafish after cardiac injury
Summary: This study highlights the importance of Foxm1, a transcription factor that is activated in cardiac muscle cells to regulate cell cycle gene expression and cell division in regeneration.
RESEARCH ARTICLES
Spastin is an essential regulator of male meiosis, acrosome formation, manchette structure and nuclear integrity
Summary: We identify an essential role for the microtubule-severing enzyme spastin in the regulation of microtubule dynamics during spermatogenesis in mouse.
Two phases for centripetal migration of Drosophila melanogaster follicle cells: initial ingression followed by epithelial migration
Summary: Secretory somatic cells enclose the Drosophila oocyte by invasive ingression between germ cells, followed by collective migration of three more cells, reorganizing to build eggshell over the anterior oocyte.
Endothelial deletion of Wt1 disrupts coronary angiogenesis and myocardium development
Highlighted Article: A new mouse model in which Wt1 expression is deleted in ECs reveals the crucial role of WT1 in coronary blood vessel development.
MafB-dependent neurotransmitter signaling promotes β cell migration in the developing pancreas
Summary: MafB controls expression of neurotransmitter and axon guidance receptor genes that promote islet cell migration and islet formation.
The alpha7 integrin subunit in astrocytes promotes endothelial blood–brain barrier integrity
Summary: Itga7−/− mice exhibit defects in the expression of endothelial junctional proteins as well as aberrant adhesion between astrocytes and laminins in vascular basement membranes, resulting in pathological blood–brain barrier integrity.
Drosophila Tropomodulin is required for multiple actin-dependent processes within developing myofibers
Summary: Drosophila Tropomodulin knockdown in larval myofibers results in myopathy-related phenotypes, with Tmod acting in actin-related processes at different subcellular locales, all essential for muscle integrity and function.
Actin-capping protein regulates actomyosin contractility to maintain germline architecture in C. elegans
Summary: Genetic and biophysical manipulations, as well as in silico simulations, reveal a role for the C. elegans actin-capping protein CAP-1 in regulation of actomyosin contractility to maintain reproductive tissue architecture and fertility.
Permissive ureter specification by TBX18-mediated repression of metanephric gene expression
Summary: TBX18 is required to repress metanephric gene programs in the mesenchymal progenitors surrounding the distal ureter bud, which allows SHH and BMP4 signaling and the formation of the ureter.
The Drosophila AWP1 ortholog Doctor No regulates JAK/STAT signaling for left–right asymmetry in the gut by promoting receptor endocytosis
Summary: Doctor No, a Drosophila AWP1 ortholog, activates JAK/STAT signaling via Dome receptor endocytosis in a crucial step for left–right asymmetry in the developing gut.
FGF signaling regulates salivary gland branching morphogenesis by modulating cell adhesion
Highlighted Article: FGFR1 and FGFR2 receptors function coordinately in salivary gland epithelial tissue to regulate branching morphogenesis by impinging on cell adhesion processes independently of FGF canonical signaling.
A proinsulin-dependent interaction between ENPL-1 and ASNA-1 in neurons is required to maintain insulin secretion in C. elegans
Summary: Analysis of worm homologues of the mammalian diabetogenic genes Grp94 (enpl-1) and Get3 (asna-1) shows how they act together to support insulin secretion, suggesting that loss of this interaction might cause diabetes.
Sertoli cells are the source of stem cell factor for spermatogenesis
Summary: SCF is produced by Sertoli, endothelial, Leydig, smooth muscle cells and Tcf21-CreER+ stromal cells in the testis, but Sertoli cells are the only physiologically important source of SCF that contributes to spermatogenesis.
Diverse branching forms regulated by a core auxin transport mechanism in plants
Summary: This study identified PIN-mediated auxin transport as an ancestral regulator of branching within the vascular plants.
The Forest of Biologists

We are excited to announce the launch of The Forest of Biologists, a new biodiversity initiative created with support from the Woodland Trust, aiming to counteract nature loss and safeguard some of the most critically endangered ecosystems for future generations. Click here to see our virtual forest: For every Research Article and Review/Commentary article that is published in Development a native tree is planted in a forest in the UK.
Propose a new Workshop for 2025

Do you have an idea for a Workshop? We are now accepting proposals for our 2025 Biologists Workshops programme. As the scientific organiser, your involvement will be focused on the science. We'll take care of all the logistics. In 2025 we'll continue our efforts to diversify our Workshop programme and will be reserving one of our Workshops for an application from a Global South (GS) country to host an event overseas.
Pathway to Independence Programme - introducing our first PI Fellows

In December 2022, we announced a new programme aimed at supporting researchers as they transition from postdoc to Principal Investigator. We are delighted to announce that we have now selected our first cohort of PI fellows, meet them here.
Development Journal Meeting 2023
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We are delighted to announce that our 2023 Journal Meeting ‘Unconventional and Emerging Experimental Organisms in Cell and Developmental Biology’ will be held from 17-20 September 2023 at Wotton House, Surrey, UK. Find out more and register here.
Call for papers: Metabolic and Nutritional Control of Development and Regeneration

We are welcoming submissions for our next special issue, which will focus on metabolic and nutritional control of development and regeneration. Submission deadline: 15 May 2023.