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Wingless shapes the fly intestine

Researchers discovered that Wingless triggers cellular reorganization and contraction of tissue to form constrictions in the fly intestine. This finding expands our understanding of Wingless signalling pathway and its role in morphogenesis and organ development.

SourceInstitute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona)·JournalEMBO Reports·DateMar 18, 2025

Many Roads Lead to… the embryo

A team of researchers has developed a theoretical model forecasting the ideal body plan of a fruit fly's early embryo, indicating that evolution might have had many optimal options. The study suggests that optimization is a key driving force in nature, with biological systems often having multiple optimal solutions for the same problem.

SourceInstitute of Science and Technology Austria·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 22, 2025

A matter of time

Researchers at ISTA used miniature 2D organs and rubbery silicone molds to study morphogen signaling dynamics during spinal cord development. The study found that BMP morphogen signaling gradients emerge quickly, then fade away, only to reappear again, shedding light on the complex process of tissue development.

SourceInstitute of Science and Technology Austria·JournalDevelopmental Cell·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 26, 2024
Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach

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Elusive cytonemes guide neural development, provide signaling ‘express route’

Researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital have visualized how cytonemes transfer signals across vast distances during neural development, establishing an 'express route' for communication between cells. This discovery provides insights into the complex process of mammalian nervous system development and highlights the crucia...

SourceSt. Jude Children's Research Hospital·JournalCell·TypeObservational study·DateJan 2, 2024

How do our organs know when to stop growing?

A multidisciplinary team of scientists from UNIGE and MPIPKS has solved the mystery of how an organ changes its size depending on the size of the animal. They developed a mathematical equation that explains how cells know when to stop growing, using the example of the Paedocypris fish.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 22, 2021

Keep quiet or be eliminated: How cell competition modulates morphogen gradients

A study published in Nature Communications reveals that cell competition modulates morphogen gradients to eliminate unhealthy cells and maintain tissue patterning. The researchers found that aberrant Wnt/β-catenin signaling leads to changes in membrane expression levels of proteins, resulting in cell death via apoptosis.

SourceOsaka University·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 23, 2019

Building a morphogen gradient by simple diffusion in a growing plant leaf

A team of researchers has demonstrated that pure diffusion in a growing tissue is sufficient to explain the formation of a signaling gradient along the leaf proximal-to-distal axis. This finding provides evidence for the viability of the diffusion-based model of morphogen in developmental patterning of multicellular organisms.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalBiophysical Journal·DateSep 5, 2017

A non-proliferative signaling center kicks off tooth development

A new study reveals the existence of a non-proliferative signaling center in tooth development, which drives epithelial invagination and instructs neighboring cells to proliferate. The initiation knot is identified as a critical regulator of tooth morphogenesis and size determination.

SourceUniversity of Helsinki·JournalJournal of Cell Biology·DateOct 10, 2016
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Cannibal tadpoles key to understanding digestive evolution

A study by North Carolina State University scientists has found that a cannibalistic tadpole's digestive organs can be transformed into those of a carnivorous frog using small molecules, revealing insights into the evolution and development of gut morphology. The research may also lead to better diagnosis and prevention of intestinal b...

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalEvolution & Development·DateMay 8, 2013

Scientists explain how morphogens work

Researchers have discovered that morphogen molecules move across cells via diffusion, a finding that could lead to new strategies for treating organ defects and cancers. The study used the fruit fly model to demonstrate how TGF beta family molecules function as morphogens.

SourceCincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center·JournalCell·DateOct 15, 2004