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Development
@dev-journal.bsky.social
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Development is a leading research journal in the field of developmental biology, covering stem cells, regeneration, evo-devo, epigenetics, morphogenesis and more. @biologists.bsky.social
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dev-journal.bsky.social
We are delighted to welcome Anna Bigas from @researchmar.bsky.social and Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute as a new Associate Editor at Development, handling papers on #haematopoiesis, #signalling and #cancer.

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Anna Bigas Associate Editor, Development Hospital de Mar Research Institute (HMRIB) and Josep Carreras Lukaemia Research Institute (IJC), Spain "I look forward to handling appers on developmental haematopoiesis and haematopoietic stem cells. I can also handle Notch signalling papers in different systems, as well as papers on cancer and leukaemia mechanisms." Key topics: development and disease, haematopoiesis, signalling, stem cells.
November 11, 2025 at 10:47 AM
dev-journal.bsky.social
Development Editor Peter Rugg-Gunn will be attending the upcoming Westlake x Nature Stem Cell 2025 conference, 'Stem cells across the lifespan Embryogenesis | Aging | Therapy,' which starts next week in Hangzhou, China.

Speak to Peter about your next Development paper.
Peter Rugg-Gunn Editor, Development Babraham Institute, UK "Development publishes important, interesting and high-quality papers, as well as a community-centred approach, preprint-friendly policies and a not-for-proft model, which invests back into community support for early-career scientists, etc." Key topics: Early embryogenesis, stem cells, cell fate control and differentiation, chromatin and epigenetics.
November 10, 2025 at 5:02 PM
dev-journal.bsky.social
Development's academic and in-house team regularly attends conferences in the fields of #DevBio and #StemCells. Use our conference calendar to see our plans and reach out to us if you want to discuss your research or journal news.

journals.biologists.com/dev/pages/co...
A small screenshot of Development's conference calendar webpage encouraging readers to click the link.
November 10, 2025 at 4:55 PM
dev-journal.bsky.social
To learn more about how this story developed and the researchers behind it, we talked to co-first authors Kirsty Uttley and Hannah Jüllig, as well as corresponding author, Hannah Long
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Left to right: Kirsty Uttley, Hannah Long and Hannah Jüllig at the Institute of Genetics and Cancer, overlooking the city of Edinburgh. Photo credit: Connor Warnock.
November 10, 2025 at 1:04 PM
dev-journal.bsky.social
Neanderthal DNA enhances our understanding of face development

This Research Highlight showcases the work from Hannah Long @hannahlong.bsky.social, Kirsty Uttley @kirstyuttley.bsky.social, Hannah Jüllig @hannahjuellig.bsky.social and colleagues: journals.biologists.com/dev/article/...
November 10, 2025 at 1:04 PM
dev-journal.bsky.social
To learn more about how this story developed and the researchers behind it, we talked to first authors Hannah Schrader Dear and Nicole Franks, as well as Benjamin Allen, Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology at the University of Michigan, USA.

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First authors Hannah Schrader Dear (left) and Nicole Franks (middle) and corresponding author Ben Allen (right)
November 7, 2025 at 12:33 PM
dev-journal.bsky.social
A new reporter mouse for visualising Hedgehog/GLI signalling activity

This Research Highlight showcases the work from Hannah Schrader Dear, Nicole Franks, Benjamin Allen and colleagues:

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Figure 7 - GLI1, GLI2 and GLI3 dynamically localize to primary cilia in GliFHV MEFs. (A) Diagram showing scheme for immunofluorescence staining of MEFs using ARL13b to mark the primary cilium and γ-tubulin (γTUB) to mark the basal body. (B) qPCR analysis of Gli1 expression in GliFHV MEFs before and after SAG stimulation. (C-D′) FLAG antibody detection in NIH/3T3 cells (C,D) and GliFHV MEFs (C′,D′). (E-F′) HA antibody detection in NIH/3T3 cells (E,F) and GliFHV MEFs (E′,F′). (G-H′) V5 antibody detection in NIH/3T3 cells (G,H) and GliFHV MEFs (G′,H′). Insets in E′-H′ show epitope tag-negative cilia. Scale bar: 5 μm
November 7, 2025 at 12:33 PM
dev-journal.bsky.social
To learn more about how this paper developed and the people behind it, we talked to first authors Sophie Warren and Bader El Farran, as well as corresponding author Manuel Baizabal, Assistant Professor at the Department of Biology, Indiana University, USA.

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Corresponding author Manuel Baizabal (left) and first authors Sophie Warren (middle) and Bader El Farran (right).
November 6, 2025 at 3:47 PM
dev-journal.bsky.social
Cortical complexity: cooperation between transcriptional and chromatin regulators

This Research Highlight showcases the work from Sophie Warren, Bader El Farran, José-Manuel Baizabal and colleagues:

journals.biologists.com/dev/article/...
Figure 1 - CtBP1/2 interact with PRDM16 and control neuronal migration; Panel E - IUE of Ctbp1/2 shRNAs at E14.5 followed by the analysis of neuronal migration at P5 indicates a significant increase of GFP+ cells in deep layers and adjacent to the white matter (WM) in comparison to controls. In the rescue condition, Ctbp1/2 shRNAs were co-electroporated with plasmids carrying the shRNA-resistant coding sequences of Ctbp1/2, resulting in a significant decrease of ectopic GFP+ cells in deep layers. Data represent mean+s.d. **P<0.01, ****P<0.001 (unpaired Student's t-test). ns, not significant.
November 6, 2025 at 3:47 PM
dev-journal.bsky.social
In preprints: multiomics of low temperature acclimation in the era of intensifying temperature fluctuations

One of our 2024 PI fellows Girish Kale (@girishkalephd.bsky.social) discusses the recent #preprint by O’Leary et al., 2025:

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'In Preprints' poster. In Preprints - A new preprint curation initiative from Development
November 4, 2025 at 3:23 PM
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Our Special Issue on Lifelong Development #LifelongDevSI is now complete!

Guest edited by Meri Huch and Mansi Srivastava, it contains 26 research and review-type articles.

On the cover: the dorsal vasculature of an adult zebrafish's first gill arch. See Preußner et al. doi.org/10.1242/dev....
November 3, 2025 at 4:35 PM
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A single-cell transcriptomic atlas of sensory-dependent gene expression in developing mouse visual cortex

Read this this #LifelongDevSI #OA Techniques and Resources Article by Andre M. Xavier, Qianyu Lin, Chris J. Kang, Lucas Cheadle (@cheadlelab.bsky.social)

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Figure 1 - Experimental design and introduction to the single-nucleus RNA sequencing dataset. (A) Schematic illustrating the late dark-rearing (LDR) paradigm and the workflow of the single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNAseq) experiments. (B) Quantification of Fos mRNA expression in sensory deprived (LDR) mice and in mice acutely exposed to light for between 15 min and 2 h, with stimulation timepoints labeled as follows: LDR15m (15 min of light), LDR30m (30 min), LDR1h (1 h) and LDR2h (2 h). Fos expression assessed by qPCR and normalized to Gapdh. Values plotted are additionally normalized to the LDR condition. (C) qPCR quantification of Jun mRNA expression (normalized to Gapdh) in V1 across all timepoints. Data obtained by qPCR and values plotted are normalized to LDR. In B and C, data are mean±s.e.m. n=3 mice per condition. One-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's post hoc test: *P<0.05; **P<0.01; ***P<0.001; ****P<0.0001. (D) Example confocal images of V1 in sections from a sensory deprived mouse (LDR) and a mouse re-exposed to light for 30 min (LDR30m). Fos mRNA (red), Jun mRNA (green) and DAPI (blue). Scale bar: 44 µm. (E) UMAP plot illustrating the 118,529 nuclei in the dataset categorized by general cell class: excitatory neurons (blue), inhibitory neurons (pink) and glia (green). (F) UMAP plot with all 16 clusters colored and labeled by cell type.
November 3, 2025 at 3:59 PM
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A molecular, spatial and regulatory atlas of the Hydra vulgaris nervous system

Read this #LifelongDevSI #OA Techniques and Resources Article by Hannah Morris Little, Abby S. Primack, Jennifer Tsverov, Celina E. Juliano (@julianolab.bsky.social) and colleagues:

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Figure 3 - Neuropeptide expression delineates distinct neural circuits in H. vulgaris. Panels D and F - Top and middle: Immunostaining using an antibody against GLWa (green) reveals the RP1 circuit extending from the basal disk to the tentacles. Bottom: GLWa immunostaining in body column rings shows endodermal en1 neurons of the RP2 circuit.
November 3, 2025 at 3:53 PM
dev-journal.bsky.social
Non-autonomy of age-related morphological changes in the C. elegans germline stem cell niche

Read this #LifelongDevSI #OA Research Article by Nilay Gupta, Mia Sinks and E. Jane Albert Hubbard doi.org/10.1242/dev....
DTC processes decline prematurely with germline stem cell differentiation, but not with restricted cell cycle progression. (left, right) Experimental design and images of DAPI-stained control and glp-1(e2141ts) (left) or glp-4(bn2ts) (right) worms at 48 h after shift to the restrictive temperature. White dotted lines indicate the proximal border of the progenitor zone (PZ). Asterisks indicate the distal end.
October 31, 2025 at 6:02 PM
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KLF7 orchestrates hippocampal development through neurogenesis and Draxin-mediated neuronal migration

Read this #LifelongDevSI #OA Research Article by Yitong Liu, Song Qin and colleagues doi.org/10.1242/dev....
KLF7 cKO disrupts dCA1 projections. (A-H) Coronal sections showing monosynaptic input labeling to ipsilateral and contralateral dCA1 PNs along the RC axis in Klf7F/F and Emx1-Cre;Klf7F/F mice. (I-L) Monosynaptic cortical input labeling to dCA1 in both groups. Dashed lines indicate distinct regions of the hippocampus and cortex. Arrows show various hippocampal subregions, including the boundary between the SP and SR layers, the sub region, and the DG. CA, cornu ammonis; DG, dentate gyrus; ECT, ectorhinal cortex; ENT, entorhinal cortex; ML, molecular layer; PRh, perirhinal cortex; SL, stratum lucidum; SLM, stratum lacunosum-moleculare; SO, stratum oriens; SP, stratum pyramidale; SR, stratum radiatum; Sub, subiculum. Scale bars: 200 µm (A-H); 500 µm (I-L).
October 31, 2025 at 5:57 PM
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A threshold level of JNK activates damage-responsive enhancers via JAK/STAT to promote tissue regeneration

Read this #LifelongDevSI #OA Research Article by John W. Quinn, Robin E. Harris and colleagues in our Stem Cells and Regeneration section doi.org/10.1242/dev....
(D-D′) The peripheral DRWNT activity (yellow arrowhead) is lost upon Stat92E knockdown, while JNK activity is unaffected. (E) Posterior-specific Stat92E knockdown (hh-GAL4) shows reduced DRWNT in posterior wound periphery (yellow arrowheads) compared to wild-type anterior; anterior/posterior boundary indicated by dashed line. (F) DRWNTΔSTAT-GFP (lacking Stat92E sites) shows loss of peripheral activity at 18 h AHS (yellow arrowhead)
October 31, 2025 at 5:53 PM
dev-journal.bsky.social
Planarian microtubules form a network within muscle and regulate injury-induced genes essential for regeneration patterning

Read this #OA Research Article by Xavier Anderson and @christianpetersen.bsky.social in our Stem Cells and Regeneration section #LifelongDevSI

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October 30, 2025 at 3:53 PM
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Single-cell transcriptomic profiling of the whole colony of Botrylloides diegensis: insights into tissue specialization and blastogenesis

Read this #OA Techniques and Resources Article by Berivan Temiz and @meganwilsonnz.bsky.social in #LifelongDevSI

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Figure 1 from the paper showing an overview of the study system: Botrylloides diegensis.
October 30, 2025 at 3:46 PM
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More extraordinary model systems for regeneration

In their #LifelongDevSI Perspective, José Garcıa-Arraras, Chunyi Li, Tania Rozario, Mansi Srivastava & @andrewilloughb.bsky.social introduce five research organisms with remarkable regenerative potential

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A screenshot of the article PDF showing the title, authors and author photos. Read the article for more information.
October 30, 2025 at 3:40 PM
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Single-cell organogenesis captures complex breast tissue formation in three dimensions
Read this #LifelongDevSI Research Article by Gat Rauner, Charlotte Kuperwasser and colleagues. doi.org/10.1242/dev....
October 29, 2025 at 4:37 PM
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Mechanisms underpinning spontaneous spinal cord regeneration

In their #LifelongDevSI Review, Amruta Tendolkar and Mayssa H. Mokalled discuss how immune responses, pro-regenerative glial cell reactivity and multimodal neuronal repair direct innate spinal cord repair
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Pro-regenerative immune, glial and neuronal responses post-SCI in zebrafish. Schematics represent longitudinal sections of spinal cord tissues in adult zebrafish. (A) In the absence of SCI, neurons and glia are organized around ependymal progenitor cells (gray) lining the central canal (white). (B) In acute SCI, zebrafish activate a transient, pro-regenerative immune response characterized by the infiltration of immune cells, predominantly microglia and macrophages, into the lesion site. Lesion-adjacent neurons survive the injury and adopt a plasticity signature, while ependymal progenitors proliferate in response to injury. (C) Chronic SCI is marked by neurogenesis, axonal regrowth and glial regeneration. Glial progenitors (magenta-gray) in the ventral domain undergo epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and contribute to astroglial bridging across the lesion. Neurogenic progenitors (green-gray) generate newborn neurons (green) and axons regrow across the lesion.
October 29, 2025 at 4:17 PM
dev-journal.bsky.social
The systemic costs of hematopoietic stem cell aging

In their #LifelongDevSI #OA Review, Gayatri Puri and Roméo S. Blanc discuss the effects of aging hematopoietic stem cells, highlighting direct and indirect crosstalk within various tissues
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HSCs as a major driver of systemic aging. Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) preferentially differentiate toward the myeloid lineage, resulting in increased production of monocytes, macrophages and neutrophils, alongside a reduction in lymphoid output. These age-associated shifts not only alter immune cell composition but also promote a pro-inflammatory and anti-healing immune landscape. Inflammatory macrophages adopt an M1 phenotype, release cytokines, and are recruited to peripheral tissues, such as brain, heart and skeletal muscle. Aged brains show increased T-cell infiltration and microglial activation. Clusterin-expressing HSCs contribute to cognitive decline in the brain. Furthermore, aged HSC transplantation promotes the pro-aging factor cyclophilin A in blood and subsequent brain dysfunction. Meanwhile, the aged heart displays accumulation of inflammatory CCR2+ and Tet2lo macrophages, predisposing it to chronic inflammation and age-related pathologies, such as atherosclerosis. Aging skin is characterized by inflammatory dendritic cells and dysregulated T-cell responses. RBC, red blood cell. Created in BioRender by Puri, G. 2025. https://BioRender.com/avi8rcc. This figure was sublicensed under CC BY 4.0 terms.
October 29, 2025 at 3:54 PM
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Regulation of tissue regeneration and repair by the peripheral nervous system

In their #LifelongDevSI Review, Griffen Wakelin and Adam Johnston discuss the role of the peripheral nervous system in tissue homeostasis and repair

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Figure 1 from the paper showing peripheral nerve anatomy and cellular composition. Peripheral nerves are organized into three concentric connective tissue layers: the epineurium, perineurium and endoneurium. Within each nerve fascicle, individual axons are surrounded by the endoneurium, which also contains Schwann cells (both myelinating and nonmyelinating), endoneurial mesenchymal cells and a microvascular network. These fascicles are enclosed by the perineurium, a specialized multilayered connective tissue structure formed by perineurial fibroblast-like cells, which provides a diffusion barrier and structural support. Multiple fascicles are grouped together and embedded in a connective tissue matrix that contains immune cells, blood and lymphatic vessels, and other stromal elements. This entire structure is wrapped by the epineurium, which is the outermost connective tissue layer that provides mechanical protection and contains another mesenchymal cell population.
October 28, 2025 at 11:18 AM
dev-journal.bsky.social
Chd4 remodels chromatin to control retinal cell type specification and lineage termination

Read this #LifelongDevSI #OA Research Article by Sujay Shah, Pierre Mattar and colleagues

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Figure 8 from the paper showing a model of lineage alterations in wild-type versus Chd4 cKO retinas. See the paper for more information.
October 28, 2025 at 11:11 AM
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Nelfb promotes dermal white adipose tissue formation through RNA polymerase II-mediated adipogenic gene regulation

Read this #LifelongDevSI #OA Research Article by Samiksha Mahapatra, George Sen and colleagues

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Some panels from Figure 4 of the Research Article showing oil Red O staining of dorsal skin.
October 28, 2025 at 11:03 AM