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Fritz Müller’s "Für Darwin" (1864) bridged evolution and development, anticipating evo-devo and warning to the dangers of scientific dogma

By Scott Gilbert and Beatrice Steinert
tinyurl.com/3sccvcr5

#SpecialIssue on Research that transformed #DevBio
Yellowed and aged book cover: "Für Darwin Von Fritz Müller / Mit 67 Figuren in Holzschnitt / Leipzig, Verlag von Wilhelm Engelmann 1864" Source: Wellcome Collection.
November 10, 2025 at 12:35 PM
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Retinoic acid promotes second heart field addition & regulates ventral aorta patterning in zebrafish.

-by Austin Griffin, Allison Small, Jennifer Schumacher, et al
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
The posterior ventral aorta domain is expanded in late RA-deficient embryos
October 30, 2025 at 3:02 PM
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#DBfeature 🪳

The transcription factor Capicua maintains the oocyte polarity in the panoistic ovary of the German cockroach

"Cic interacts with Notch and EGFR pathways"

by Nashwa Elshaer, Jorge Escudero, Maria-Dolors Piulachs
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
B. germanica capicua (cic): Expression and localization
October 28, 2025 at 1:47 PM
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Scientists have identified a provisional regulatory circuit downstream of the transcription factor Pax3/7 operating in the descending decussating neurons (ddNs) of the tunicate Ciona robusta.

By Kim, K., Piekarz, K. M., & Stolfi, A.
doi.org/10.1016/j.yd...
Upper panel: The descending decussating neurons (ddNs) of a Ciona larva at 19.5 h post-fertilization (hpf at 20 ◦C, ~ Hotta stage 29) labeled by expression of elecroporated Dmbx/Defcab >Unc-76::YFP reporter plasmid. Scale bar =10 μm. Right: comparative diagrams of ddNs and their putative vertebrate homologs, the Mauthner cells (species depicted as an example is Danio rerio). Lower panel: A summary diagram of a ddN gene regulatory network. Diagram for a ddN-specific gene regulatory network downstream of Pax3/7. Some branches are shared with different neuron types, such as ACINs, epidermal neurons, or papilla neurons (a sub-type of epidermal neurons). Dashed arrow indicates regulatory connection supported by RNAseq data, but not validated by reporter plasmids or in situ mRNA hybridization. Grey arrow indicates possible role of Lhx1/5 in regulating maintenance, but not initial activation of Dmbx and Defcab.
October 27, 2025 at 5:04 PM
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#DBfeature #EvoDevo

mRNA splicing variants of the transcription factor Blimp1 differentially regulate germline genes in echinoderms

"Each Blimp1 isoform has distinct functions within & between species"

by Gerardo Reyes, Nathalie Oulhen, Gary Wessel
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Sea star embryo development. Blimp1 mRNA expression localizes at the oocyte's vegetal site, similar to Vasa and Wnt, important genes for germline formation.
October 24, 2025 at 12:53 PM
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#DBfeature 🧑‍🔬

David Sherwood draws a powerful parallel between morphogenesis and a scientific career, showing how becoming a biologist is a continual process of shaping, adaptation, and growth. Like development, a scientific life unfolds through adaptation and emergence.

tinyurl.com/6yd46wcx
The author Dave Sherwood with the chicken flock that he and his wife Nina tend to in their yard in North Carolina.
October 23, 2025 at 12:42 PM
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Building a genetic map of limb development driven by the apical ectodermal ridge

By Lee Niswander

tinyurl.com/bdzrjsyz

#SpecialIssue on Research that Transformed #DevelopmentalBiology
Experiments highlighting importance of the apical ectodermal ridge (AER) and FGF in proximal-distal limb development. A) Histological section through the tip of chick limb bud showing the prominent ridge of ectoderm (AER; from Saunders, 1948). B, C) RNA in situ hybridization of mouse limb buds showing expression of Fgf4 and Fgf8 in the AER (Niswander unpublished). D) Limb truncations due to excision of the entire AER from chick limb buds at successively later stages (from Saunders, 1948). E) Skeletal stainings of chick embryo limbs: normal (left); truncation due to AER removal (middle); and rescue of proximal-distal growth and patterning by FGF microbeads placed at the limb tip following AER removal (right, from Niswander et al., 1993). Note that chick wing digits were conventionally labeled as digits 2, 3 and 4 but now are denoted as digits 1, 2 and 3. F) Skeletal stainings of mouse embryos: wildtype (left) and after genetic knock-out of Fgf4 and Fgf8 in the AER (right, from Sun et al., 2002). Figures reproduced with journal permission.
October 20, 2025 at 12:02 PM
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PRDM14 is essential for vertebrate gastrulation and safeguards avian germ cell identity by antagonising FGF-induced differentiation

By D Doddamani, D Carlson, L McTeir, L Taylor, S Nandi, M Davey, M McGrew, J Glover

tinyurl.com/2wpakkyd

#SpecialIssue on Avian Model Systems
Schematic of PRDM14 expression in Primordial Germ cells (red) in the epiblast, neural plate, and embryonic gonads of chick embryo. Schematic representation of the roles of Prdm14 in development, comparing wild type and Prdm14 KO gastrulation, respectively with and without primitive streak. In vivo, Prdm14 KO have less primordial germ cells. In vitro, Prdm14 inhibits differentiation and safeguards germ cell identity.
October 15, 2025 at 1:08 PM
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The chicken embryo brings new insights into the tissue specific evolutionary role of WFDC1 during amniote development

-T Metzker-Pinto, YTH Tran, I Buzzatto-Leite, L Lok, JF Sampar, HF Carvalho, G del Monte-Nieto, LE Alvares

tinyurl.com/3abhm3d5

#SpecialIssue on Avian model systems
(A–B) WFDC1 expression pattern during chicken and mouse eye development, respectively. The developmental stages are indicated at the top of each image. Sagittal (Ai) and coronal (Aii-iv, Bi-v) sections were presented. (C–E) UMAP visualization of the mouse retina cells according to their transcriptome similarities, representing the cell type (C), embryonic day (D) and WFDC1 expression level (E).
October 13, 2025 at 9:05 AM
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Proteomic analysis of chick embryonic heart in experimental hypoxia shows upregulation in anaerobic glycolysis, apoptosis-related proteins, cell adhesion proteins, and secretory activity

By David Sedmera, Eliska Drobna Krejci, Ondrej Nanka, and Adam Eckhardt

tinyurl.com/y3vdmx2s
STRING analysis of protein-protein interaction (106 proteins with significantly higher concentration in hypoxia) – divided to 7 clusters containing more than one protein. Compared to the genes downregulated in hypoxia, there are more numerous protein interactions, attesting to the activation of key pathways allowing the adaptation of the heart to hypoxic stress. The clusters are colour-coded; protein abbreviations correspond to their names
October 10, 2025 at 2:02 PM
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Research facilities in the UK, France, and Japan maintaining transgenic lines for Avian developmental biology

By Lindsay Henderson, Yuya Okuzaki, Christophe Marcelle, Mike McGrew, and Ken-ichi Nishijima

tinyurl.com/4drw4d6a
#SpecialIssue on Avian model systems
Fluorescent microscopy images of transgenic chicken resources maintained at the NARF, The Roslin Institute. (A) GFP chicken embryo with a ‘red’ graft placed into the limb bud with micro-surgery. The graft is about 50–100 μM. (B) Stage 32 HH limb bud from the CSF1R-eGFP embryo. Macrophages (green) are concentrated in areas of cell death, blood vessels (red) are labelled with SNA lectin. (C) ACTN line embryo spinal cord stage 16 HH. (D) Dorsal Root Ganglion of the nervous system of a Chameleon transgenic chicken embryo. Nerves going into the dorsal root ganglion are red, and nerves coming out are green. (E) Fluorescent image of the dorsal skin (periderm) from a membrane GFP chick embryo. (F) FUCHI cell cycle reporter embryo stage 23 HH. All images were provided by members of The Roslin Institute Chicken Embryology (RICE) group.
October 10, 2025 at 11:54 AM
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Gpnmb promotes the recruitment of macrophages post cardiac cryoinjury in zebrafish, influencing immune and fibrotic responses during regeneration

-S Gupta, GK Bajwa, H El-Sammak, K Mattonet, S Günther, M Looso, D Stainier, R Marín-Juez @rmarinjuez.bsky.social

tinyurl.com/yc7hv5dn
Upper panel: Immunostaining of zebrafish ventricles at 7 dpci after cryoinjury shows fewer macrophages (mpeg1:EGFP⁺, magenta) in gpnmb⁻/⁻ ventricles compared with wild-type. DAPI staining (blue) marks nuclei (B). Quantification confirms a significant reduction in macrophage numbers within the injured border zone of gpnmb⁻/⁻ tissue (C). Lower panel: Acid Fuchsin Orange-G (AFOG) stained sections of zebrafish cryoinjured ventricles show that gpnmb⁻/⁻ ventricles develop larger collagen-rich scars than wild-type at 30 and 90 dpci (F and G). Quantification illustrates greater proportions of large scar areas in gpnmb⁻/⁻ ventricles (H), indicating impaired scar resolution and delayed cardiac regeneration.
October 7, 2025 at 3:22 PM
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#DBfeature #Drosophila 🪰

Slit-independent guidance of longitudinal axons by Drosophila Robo3

"A non-Slit-binding function of Robo3 Ig1 contributes to its axon guidance activity."

by Abigail Carranza, Timothy Evans et al
@timevansphd.bsky.social

sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
October 3, 2025 at 1:37 PM
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Mammalian lactation as a dynamic theme to teach core biological concepts while integrating social and economic contexts, fostering not only scientific knowledge but also socially responsible thinking through high-impact, student-centred learning practices.

tinyurl.com/ydj8ujuy
Circular diagram representing the modular structure for a core biology course that centres lactation. At the centre is a woman nursing a child captioned "core biology course". Module 1 in red "Foundations" depicts colourful human stick figures. Module 2 in yellow "Anatomy" show an anatomical reddening of a lactating breast. Module 3 in green "Sociobiology" shows a translation sign. Module 4 in blue "cell biology" shows a mammary cell producing milk. Module 5 in purple "integration systems" delves into the neuroendocrine regulation of milk synthesis and secretion.
September 26, 2025 at 9:19 AM
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During oogenesis in planarian S. mediterranea, the nuclear envelope transforms into Sunburst Nuclear Envelope Vescicles that contain nuclear proteins but lack DNA and nuclear pores

By Longhua Guo et al.

tinyurl.com/4n5wwps8

#SpecialIssue on #Oogenesis in animals and plants
D reconstruction of the Sunburst Nuclear Envelope Vesicles. (A) Type III cells. Green sheet = nuclear envelope. Dots = nuclear pore complexes. Purple and red buds = Sunburst Nuclear Envelope Vesicles. (B) Type IV cells. Cyan sheet = nuclear envelope. Dots = nuclear pore complexes. Green, Red, Blue, Purple coral shapes = Sunburst Nuclear Envelope Vesicles. (C) Type V cells. Green sheet = nuclear envelope. Dots = nuclear pore complexes. The rest = Sunburst Nuclear Envelope Vesicles. (D–E) The same Sunburst Nuclear Envelope Vesicle sectioned at different positions. N = nucleoplasm. C = cytoplasm. Ribosomes on nuclear envelope (green sheet) were present but not illustrated. (F–G) The same Sunburst Nuclear Envelope Vesicle viewed from different angles. N = nucleoplasm. C = cytoplasm. Dumbbell shapes in F. (H–I) The same Sunburst Nuclear Envelope Vesicle sectioned at different positions. N = nucleoplasm. C = cytoplasm. Dumbbell shapes in H. Double rings in I.
September 24, 2025 at 12:23 PM
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Amino acids activate mTORC1 at the early blastocyst stage to regulate trophoblast motility, controlling embryo implantation and the ability to enter diapause in both mouse and human blastocysts.

By Ann Sutherland

tinyurl.com/2kt9a6up

#SpecialIssue on #ExtraEmbryonic tissues
Diagram of early implantation steps. Early blastocyst at E3.5 receives a "Signal triggering attachment". The blastocyst is then showed at E4.0 as it attaches to the uterine epithelium via glandular connections. At E4.5 mTORC1 is activated and starts a "Signal triggering protrusive activity". At E4.8 the blastocyst is shown at the onset of invasion of the uterine epithelium.
September 23, 2025 at 1:37 PM
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#DBfeature #chick🐥
Generation of a transgenic chicken line with reporters for limb bud mesenchyme and apical ectodermal ridge cells

Yuji Atsuta, Yi-Chen Chen, Yuna Hattori, Tatsuya Takemoto, Daisuke Saito

tiom33.short.gy/DB520,53-61
September 11, 2025 at 11:46 AM
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Tlx3 mediates neuronal differentiation and proper condensation of the developing trigeminal ganglion

by Hugo Urrutia, Jan Stundl, Marianne Bronner @janstundl.bsky.social
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
December 2, 2024 at 12:56 PM
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#DBfeature #NeuralCrest🐣

SMPD3 expression is spatially regulated in the developing embryo by SOXE factors

by Michael Piacentino et al
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
April 19, 2024 at 11:23 AM
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#DBfeature #Zebrafish🐟

Neutrophils facilitate the epicardial regenerative response after zebrafish heart injury

by Elizabeth Peterson, Jinhu Wang et al
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
May 17, 2024 at 6:19 AM
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Pax2a, Pax5 and Cdh1-β-catenin, but not Wnt, protect sensory hair cells from destabilizing effects of fgf signaling on cell adhesion

by Whitney Roberson, Jorden Holland, Bruce Riley
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
June 13, 2025 at 8:04 PM
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Spatiotemporal control of cell ablation using Ronidazole with Nitroreductase in Drosophila

by Gary Teeters, Christina Cucolo, Sagar Kasar, Melanie Worley, and Sarah Siegrist

tiom33.short.gy/DB520,31-40
Scientific figure showing experiments in fruit flies testing cell ablation with Ronidazole and Nitroreductase. Top panels: images of adult flies with normal eyes vs. reduced or absent eyes after treatment, quantified in a bar graph. Middle panels: fluorescent images of eye discs showing GFP-labeled cells and Dcp1 staining, with increased cell death after treatment. Bottom panels: brain images showing targeted ablation of insulin-producing cells and cortex glia, confirmed by loss of GFP and presence of Dcp1. Graphs show significant reduction in specific cell types with Ronidazole treatment.
September 7, 2025 at 8:49 AM
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Cell differentiation in the embryonic periderm and in scaffolding epithelia of skin appendages

by Leopold Eckhart et al
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
November 27, 2024 at 12:50 PM
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#DBfeature 🦜🪶 #FGF20

The avian ectodermal default competence to make feathers
by Danielle Dhouailly

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
May 22, 2024 at 11:09 AM
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#DBfeature #Xenopus🐸

Histological and gene-expression analyses of pyloric sphincter formation during stomach metamorphosis in Xenopus laevis

by Kei Nagura, Takafumi Ikeda, Masanori Taira et al
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
The sphincter is formed within the pylorus region before a molecular boundary between the pylorus and duodenum is formed.
June 4, 2025 at 12:27 PM