During evolution, bilateral animals have experienced a progressive process of cephalization
with the anterior concentration of nervous tissue, sensory organs and the appearance of …

Despite the vast morphological variation observed across phyla, animals share multiple
basic developmental processes orchestrated by a common ancestral gene toolkit. These …

Developmental biology aims to understand how the dynamics of embryonic shapes and
organ functions are encoded in linear DNA molecules. Thanks to recent progress in …

Epithelial-mesenchymal interactions are crucial for the development of numerous animal
structures. Thus, unraveling how molecular tools are recruited in different lineages to control …

The origin of chordates and the consequent genesis of vertebrates were major events in
natural history. The amphioxus (lancelet) is now recognised as the closest extant relative to …

The neural crest represents a highly multipotent population of embryonic stem cells found
only in vertebrate embryos. Acquisition of the neural crest during the evolution of vertebrates …

Owing to its phylogenetic position at the base of the chordates, the cephalochordate
amphioxus is an emerging model system carrying immense significance for understanding …

Amphioxus (Cephalochordata) belongs to the most basal extant chordates, and knowledge
of their brain organization appears to be key to deciphering the early stages of evolution of …

Branchiostomatidae (lancelets or amphioxus) comprises about 30 species, several of which
are well-established models in evolutionary development. Our zoological and ecological …

During evolution, bilateral animals have experienced a progressive process of cephalization
with the anterior concentration of nervous tissue, sensory organs and the appearance of …