Review
Developmental Biology
Veronica Biga, Tom P. J. Wyatt, Diana Pinheiro
Summary: Across developmental systems, quantitative and imaging-based approaches have provided unprecedented resolution of dynamic changes in gene regulation and cell fate specification, enabling the construction of comprehensive theoretical models. However, gaining a cross-scale understanding of developmental systems requires further collaboration between disciplines. The Company of Biologists workshop 'Fostering quantitative modelling and experimentation in Developmental Biology' highlights exciting multi-disciplinary research in this field.
Review
Cell Biology
Harold M. McNamara, Beatrice Ramm, Jared E. Toettcher
Summary: Technological advances have contributed to recent developments in developmental biology, such as light sheet imaging for studying single-cell dynamics and single-cell genomic methods for cataloguing cell types and gene expression states. Synthetic approaches are also emerging to understand development processes from the bottom up, including synthetic circuits for signaling delivery and recording, and synthetic reconstitution of pattern formation on multicellular scales.
SEMINARS IN CELL & DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Cell Biology
Namid R. Stillman, Roberto Mayor
Summary: Understanding the mechanisms of cell coordination in differentiation and migration is crucial for comprehending wound healing, disease progression, and developmental biology. Mathematical models have played an essential role in testing and improving our understanding, including the models of cells as soft spherical particles, reaction-diffusion systems linking cell movement to environmental factors, and multi-scale multi-physics simulations combining rule-based models with continuum laws. However, mathematical models often lack strong data relation or have excessive parameters, leading to weakly constrained model behavior. Recent advancements in machine learning provide new approaches for model derivation and deployment. This review explores examples of mathematical models in developmental biology, such as cell migration, and how these models can be integrated with recent machine learning methods.
SEMINARS IN CELL & DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Genetics & Heredity
Margarete Diaz-Cuadros, Olivier Pourquie
Summary: Organismal development requires an ordered sequence of steps in both time and space. Temporal specificity in developmental steps is achieved through molecular clocks and timers. Coordination of timing mechanisms is necessary for maintaining the overall developmental sequence. Phenotypic novelties can arise through modification of temporal patterns.
ANNUAL REVIEW OF GENETICS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Carol A. Finn, Paul A. Bedrosian, W. Steven Holbrook, Esben Auken, Benjamin R. Bloss, Jade Crosbie
Summary: The nature of Yellowstone National Park's plumbing system linking deep thermal fluids to its thermal features is not well understood. Our study provides a detailed view of the pathways of the Yellowstone hydrothermal system using geophysical data. We found that the majority of thermal features are located above high-flux conduits along buried faults capped with clay. Shallow pathways feed groundwater into basins, where it mixes with thermal fluids from vertical conduits. These mixed fluids then emerge at the surface and flow outwards along deeper layers, resulting in the observed geochemical signatures.
Editorial Material
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Matteo Chiesa
Summary: This paper discusses the underlying physicochemical phenomena in wettability studies, and Kim et al. provide new insights into the study of graphene wettability using a novel approach in the current issue of Chem.
Review
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Jukka H. Meurman, Michel Goldberg
Summary: Irma Thesleff is a prominent scholar in the field of developmental biology, known for her research on tooth development and morphogenesis. Her work has contributed to a better understanding of complex signaling networks. She has earned recognition both domestically and internationally, and continues her research even after retirement.
Review
Plant Sciences
Elif Gediz Kocaoglan, Dhanya Radhakrishnan, Naomi Nakayama
Summary: Plant morphology and anatomy greatly impact agricultural yield. Genetic engineering has allowed for precise engineering of plant development, but with unpredictable outcomes. Synthetic biology approaches offer the potential for improved plant growth and development, creating climate-resilient agriculture.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Chunxia Zhou, Sijuan Sun, Mengyu Hu, Yingying Xiao, Xiafeng Yu, Lincai Ye, Lisheng Qiu
Summary: The research reveals that volume overload affects the development of the prepubertal right ventricle in postnatal mice, inducing changes in cell cycle regulation and angiogenesis. The VO group showed a significant increase in Ki67-positive cardiomyocytes compared to the sham group, and the intensity of vascular endothelial cells changed dramatically over time in both groups.
CELL DEATH DISCOVERY
(2021)
Article
Developmental Biology
Claudio D. Stern
Summary: Developmental Biology is a interdisciplinary field that tackles fundamental questions in Biology. The past 100 years have witnessed significant advancements, driven by new technologies and knowledge from other fields. However, the field has been rapidly changing in the past two decades, raising concerns. This article provides an overview of the changes that have occurred and calls for efforts to regain what has been lost in the field.
DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Developmental Biology
Jacqueline V. Graniel, Jessica Teitel, Rebecca Glineburg, Erez Cohen, Laura A. Buttitta, Scott Barolo, Benjamin L. Allen
Summary: Developing Future Biologists (DFB) is an inclusive organization that aims to engage and inspire the next generation of biologists in the field of developmental biology, regardless of their background. DFB provides a week-long program consisting of lectures, laboratory sessions, and interactions with scientists, with the goal of encouraging undergraduate students to pursue research and advanced degrees in science. The program also connects participants with a network of scientists to support their success throughout their research careers.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lu Han, Yongxia Wu, Kun Fang, Sean Sweeney, Ulyss K. Roesner, Melodie Parrish, Khushbu Patel, Tom Walter, Julia Piermattei, Anthony Trimboli, Julia Lefler, Cynthia D. Timmers, Xue-Zhong Yu, Victor X. X. Jin, Michael T. Zimmermann, Angela J. Mathison, Raul Urrutia, Michael C. Ostrowski, Gustavo Leone
Summary: Through lineage tracing and single-cell RNA sequencing in mice, this study identifies the splanchnic mesenchyme as the tissue of origin for cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in pancreatic cancer. The findings shed light on pancreatic morphogenesis and tumorigenesis, and highlight the persistent transcriptional program underlying splanchnic lineage differentiation.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kyongho Choe, Unil Pak, Yu Pang, Wanjun Hao, Xiuqin Yang
Summary: Development from single cells to multicellular tissues and organs involves differentiation, which is not merely the replication of cells. Previous research has focused on differences in gene expression profiles, but has been limited in understanding the molecular mechanisms of differentiation. Advancements in genomics, particularly single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq), have enabled a better understanding of differentiation and cell lineage. However, the loss of spatial information during scRNA-seq has led to the emergence of spatial transcriptomics as a discipline and the development of tools to address this limitation.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
M. C. Reiss, L. De Siena, J. D. Muirhead
Summary: Understanding the magmatic plumbing system of rift volcanoes is important for examining the interaction between magma and tectonic forces. Using high-resolution tomographic imaging, this study reveals the presence of fluid-filled fracture networks and their association with carbonatite volcanism. The study also highlights the connection between volcanoes and rift segments through a central sill complex and a connected plumbing system.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Review
Cell Biology
Logan Meurer, Leonard Ferdman, Beau Belcher, Troy Camarata
Summary: The SIX family of transcription factors play crucial roles in embryonic development and tumorigenesis, controlling gene expression, promoting cell self-renewal and differentiation, and disruptions in their function lead to congenital defects and cancer development. Research in developmental biology and cancer have provided extensive understanding of SIX family functions, with common themes emerging when comparing their roles in embryonic and cancer development. The complementary nature of these two fields highlights how knowledge in one area can facilitate new aspects of experimentation in the other.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)