Signaling by the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) family is necessary for proper neural
development and function throughout life. Sequential waves of activation, inhibition, and …

The neural crest and craniofacial placodes are two distinct progenitor populations that arise
at the border of the vertebrate neural plate. This border region develops through a series of …

In bilaterians, three orthogonal body axes define the animal form, with distinct anterior–
posterior, dorsal–ventral and left–right asymmetries. The key signalling factors are Wnt …

Xenopus embryos provide a favorable material to dissect the sequential steps that lead to
dorsal–ventral (DV) and anterior–posterior (AP) cell differentiation. Here, we analyze the …

The vertebrate body plan follows stereotypical dorsal–ventral (DV) tissue differentiation
controlled by bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) and secreted BMP antagonists, such as …

During development of chordates, establishment of the body plan relies on the activity of an
organizing centre located on the dorsal side of the embryo that patterns the embryo and …

Research from the last 15 years has provided a working model for how the anterior forebrain
is induced and specified during the early stages of embryogenesis. This model relies on …

Retinoic acid (RA) is a central signaling molecule regulating multiple developmental
decisions during embryogenesis. Excess RA induces head malformations, primarily by …

The specification of anteroposterior (AP) axis is a fundamental and complex patterning
process that sets up the embryonic polarity and shapes a multicellular organism. This …

The emergence of the bilateral embryonic body axis from a symmetrical egg has been a
long-standing question in developmental biology. Historical and modern experiments point …