Developmental biology

Developmental biology studies how organisms grow and change from fertilization through maturity, including the genetic, cellular, and tissue processes that shape them.

Morphogen: A signaling molecule whose concentration helps specify different cell fates across a developing tissue. Morphogen gradients let cells interpret position and adopt distinct developmental fates.
Fertilization: The fusion of gametes that produces a zygote and combines genetic material from two parents. It initiates the developmental sequence and establishes the first embryonic cell.
Congenital disorder: A structural or functional condition present at birth, arising before birth or during development. Disruptions to developmental processes can produce conditions present at birth.
Evolutionary biology: The study of how populations and species change over generations. It focuses on inherited change across generations, while developmental biology examines how organisms form.
Aristotle: An ancient Greek philosopher whose works included observations and theories about animal development. His observations of chick embryos are among the earliest sustained studies of development.
Gene regulatory network: A system of interacting genes and regulatory elements that controls patterns of gene expression. These networks coordinate the gene-expression changes that drive developmental transitions.
Stem cell: An unspecialized cell that can self-renew and produce one or more specialized cell types. Stem cells supply developing tissues with cells that can proliferate and specialize.
Regenerative medicine: A field that seeks to restore tissue or organ function using cells, biomaterials, or biological signals. Knowledge of tissue formation informs attempts to repair or replace damaged structures.
Cell biology: The study of cell structure, function, and behavior. Cell biology examines cellular processes broadly; developmental biology links them to organismal formation.
Hans Spemann: A German embryologist known for experiments on embryonic induction and organizer activity. His transplantation experiments identified an organizer that can direct embryonic patterning.

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