NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Developmental biology

Developmental biology is the study of the process by which organisms grow and develop. Modern developmental biology studies the genetic control of cell growth, differentiation and "morphogenesis," which is the process that gives rise to tissues, organs and anatomy. Embryology is a subfield, the study of organisms between the one-cell stage (generally, the zygote) and the end of the embryonic stage, which is not necessarily the beginning of free living. Embryology was originally a more descriptive science until the 20th century. Embryology and developmental biology today deal with the various steps necessary for the correct and complete formation of the body of a living organism. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (770x812, 181 KB) Views of a Foetus in the Womb (c. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (770x812, 181 KB) Views of a Foetus in the Womb (c. ... Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci (April 15, 1452 â€“ May 2, 1519) was a talented Italian Renaissance Roman Catholic[1] polymath: architect, anatomist, sculptor, engineer, inventor, geometer, scientist, mathematician, musician, and painter. ... 1510 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1512 was a leap year starting on Monday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The term cell growth is used in two different ways in biology. ... Embryonic stem cells differentiate into cells in various body organs. ... Morphogenesis is also the name of a band. ... Biological tissue is any substance made up of cells that perform a similar function within an organism. ... In biology, an organ (Latin: organum, instrument, tool) is a group of tissues that perform a specific function or group of functions. ... Anatomical drawing of the human muscles from the EncyclopÃ©die. ... Embryology is the branch of developmental biology that studies embryos and their development. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999 in the... With regard to living things, a body is the integral physical material of an individual, and contrasts with soul, personality and behavior. ...

The related field of evolutionary developmental biology was formed largely in the 1990s and is a synthesis of findings from molecular developmental biology and evolutionary biology which considers the diversity of organismal form in an evolutionary context. Evolutionary developmental biology (evolution of development or informally, evo-devo) is a field of biology that compares the developmental processes of different animals in an attempt to determine the ancestral relationship between organisms and how developmental processes evolved. ... See also 1990s, the band The 1990s decade refers to the years from 1990 to 1999, inclusive, sometimes informally including popular culture from the very late 1980s and from 2000 and beyond. ... Synthesis (from the ancient Greek ÏƒÏÎ½ (with) and Î¸ÎµÏƒÎ¹Ï‚ (placing), is commonly understood to be an integration of two or more pre-existing elements which results in a new creation. ... Evolutionary biology is a subfield of biology concerned with the origin and descent of species, as well as their change, multiplication, and diversity over time. ...

The findings of developmental biology can help to understand developmental malfunctions such as chromosomal aberrations, for example, Down syndrome. An understanding of the specialization of cells during embryogenesis may yield information on how to specialize stem cells to specific tissues and organs, which could lead to the specific cloning of organs for medical purposes. Another biologically important process that occurs during development is apoptosis - cell "suicide". For this reason, many developmental models are used to elucidate the physiology and molecular basis of this cellular process. This article is about the biological chromosome. ... Cells in culture, stained for keratin (red) and DNA (green). ... Mouse embryonic stem cells. ... Cloning is the process of creating an identical copy of an original organism or thing. ... A cell undergoing apoptosis. ... Physiology (in Greek physis = nature and logos = word) is the study of the mechanical, physical, and biochemical functions of living organisms. ...

Molecular mechanisms of development

During the second half of the 20th century the types of molecules involved in embryonic development were identified. Transcription factors are the key regulators of which genes are expressed in cells. Transcriptional control in the various differentiated cell types allows each type of cell (epithelial, muscle, neuron, etc) to express different amounts of the possible proteins. The transcription factors are regulated by signal transduction pathways that relay signals from outside of cells to the cell nucleus. Signal transduction pathways often involve receptors, receptor ligands and enzymes such as protein kinases. One key class of genes that are differentially regulated by transcription factors in different cell types are genes for cell adhesion proteins. Cell adhesion proteins are among the key regulators of morphogenesis. Functions of these various proteins in development are often elucidated experimentally using gene knockdown techniques in embryos. In molecular biology, a transcription factor is a protein that binds DNA at a specific promoter or enhancer region or site, where it regulates transcription. ... This stylistic schematic diagram shows a gene in relation to the double helix structure of DNA and to a chromosome (right). ... A cell type is a distinct morphological or functional form of cell. ... In biology, signal transduction is any process by which a cell converts one kind of signal or stimulus into another. ... In biochemistry, a receptor is a protein on the cell membrane or within the cytoplasm or cell nucleus that binds to a specific molecule (a ligand), such as a neurotransmitter, hormone, or other substance, and initiates the cellular response to the ligand. ... In chemistry, a ligand is an atom, ion, or molecule (see also: functional group) that generally donates one or more of its electrons through a coordinate covalent bond to, or shares its electrons through a covalent bond with one or more central atoms or ions (these ligands act as a... A protein kinase is an enzyme that modifies other proteins by chemically adding phosphate groups to them (phosphorylation). ... Schematic of cell adhesion The study of cell adhesion is part of cell biology. ... Morphogenesis is also the name of a band. ... A gene knockdown is either a genetically modified organism that carries one or more genes in its chromosomes that has been made less active or had its expression reduced or is the use of a reagent such as an antisense oligo to decrease expression of a specific gene, copying the...

Concepts in developmental biology

Pretty too Allantois is a part of a developing animal embryo. ... The amnion is a membranous sac which surrounds and protects the embryo. ... Embryogenesis is the process of cell division and cellular differentiation which leads to the development of an embryo. ... A blastomere is the structure which results from the divisions of a fertilised egg during embryonic development . ... Blastulation. ... Chorion can refer to the following things: Chorion is the outer membrane of the amniotic sac. ... Butterfly Chrysalis Monarch Butterfly Chrysalis For the record label created in 1969, see Chrysalis Records. ... In embryology, cleavage is the division of cells in the early embryo. ... Embryos (and one tadpole) of the wrinkled frog (Rana rugosa). ... Embryogenesis is the process by which the embryo is formed and develops. ... Embryology is the branch of developmental biology that studies embryos and their development. ... Fetus at eight weeks Foetus redirects here. ... Fetus at eight weeks Foetus redirects here. ... 1 - blastula, 2 - gastrula; orange - ectoderm, red - endoderm. ... 1 - blastula, 2 - gastrula; orange - ectoderm, red - endoderm. ... It has been suggested that organogenesis be merged into this article or section. ... The germ plasm (or polar plasm) is a zone found in the the cytoplasm of the egg cells of some model organisms (such as C. elegans, Drosophila, Xenopus), which contains determinants that will give rise to the germ cell lineage. ... Sunflower seedlings, just three days after germination Germination is the process where growth emerges from a resting stage. ... Induction IS retarded This page is a candidate for speedy deletion. ... American high school students Adolescence is the period of psychological and social transition between childhood and adulthood (gender-specific, manhood, or womanhood). ... A larva (Latin; plural larvae) is a juvenile form of animal with indirect development, undergoing metamorphosis (for example, insects or amphibians). ... A maternal effect, in genetics, is the phenomena where the genotype of a mother is expressed in the phenotype of its offspring. ... A Pieris rapae larva An older Pieris rapae larva A Pieris rapae pupa A Pieris rapae adult Metamorphosis is a process in biology by which an individual physically develops after birth or hatching, and involves significant change in form as well as growth and differentiation. ... In biology the genome of an organism is the whole hereditary information of an organism that is encoded in the DNA (or, for some viruses, RNA). ... Morphogenesis is also the name of a band. ... Morula is a stage of embryonic development in animals, including the 16-cell phase, the 32-cell phase, and the 64-cell phase. ... Neoteny describes a process by which paedomorphism is achieved, and is a subject studied in the field of developmental biology. ... The study of neural development draws on both neuroscience and developmental biology to describe the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which complex nervous systems emerge during embryonic development and throughout life. ... In biology, a nymph is the immature form of some insect species (e. ... Ontogeny (also ontogenesis or morphogenesis) describes the origin and the development of an organism from the fertilized egg to its mature form. ... Paedogenesis is the act of reproduction by an organism that has not achieved physical maturity. ... Pangenesis was Charles Darwins hypothetical mechanism for heredity. ... In biology, phylogenetics (Greek: phylon = tribe, race and genetikos = relative to birth, from genesis = birth) is the study of evolutionary relatedness among various groups of organisms (e. ... A primordium (plural primordia) is the first stage in the development of an organ. ... Chrysalis of Gulf Fritillary in Georgetown, South Carolina Pupation of Inachis io A pupa (plural: pupae or pupas) is the life stage of some insects undergoing transformation. ... The human vermiform appendix is a vestigial structure: it no longer retains its original function. ... A ripe red jalapeno cut open to show the seeds For other uses, see Seed (disambiguation). ... Self-organization refers to a process in which the internal organization of a system, normally an open system, increases automatically without being guided or managed by an outside source. ... Teratology (from the Greek teras (genitive teratos), meaning monster, and logos meaning study) is the medical study of teratogenesis or grossly deformed individuals. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Developmental model organisms

Often used model organisms in developmental biology include the following: A model organism is a species that is extensively studied to understand particular biological phenomena, with the expectation that discoveries made in the organism model will provide insight into the workings of other organisms. ...

Families Asymmetronidae Branchiostomidae The lancelets (subphylum Cephalochordata, and traditionally known as the amphioxus) are a group of primitive chordates. ... Binomial name Danio rerio (Hamilton-Buchanan, 1822) The Zebra Danio or Zebrafish (Brachydanio rerio or Danio rerio) is a tropical fish belonging to the minnow family (Cyprinidae). ... Binomial name Oryzias latipes Temminck & Schlegel 1846 The very small ricefish Oryzias latipes, also known as the medaka or Japanese killifish, is a popular aquarium fish native to Southeast Asia. ... Distribution of frogs (in black) Suborders Archaeobatrachia Mesobatrachia Neobatrachia - List of Anuran families The frog is an amphibian in the order Anura (meaning tail-less from Greek an-, without + oura, tail). ... Binomial name Xenopus laevis Daudin, 1802 The African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis, also known as platanna) is a species of South African aquatic frog of the genus Xenopus. ... Binomial name Gallus gallus (Linnaeus, 1758) The Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus), a tropical member of the Pheasant family, is the direct ancestor of the domestic chicken. ... Binomial name Mus musculus Linnaeus, 1758 Mus musculus is the common house mouse. ... Mammalian embryogenesis is the process of cell division and cellular differentiation which leads to the development of a mammalian embryo. ... Subclasses Euechinoidea Superorder Atelostomata Order Cassiduloida Order Spatangoida (heart urchins) Superorder Diadematacea Order Diadematoida Order Echinothurioida Order Pedinoida Superorder Echinacea Order Arbacioida Order Echinoida Order Phymosomatoida Order Salenioida Order Temnopleuroida Superorder Gnathostomata Order Clypeasteroida (sand dollars) Order Holectypoida Perischoechinoidea Order Cidaroida (pencil urchins) Group of black, long-spined Caribbean sea... Binomial name Caenorhabditis elegans Maupas, 1900 Caenorhabditis elegans (pronounced see-no-rab-DYE-tis) is a free-living nematode (one of the roundworms), about 1 mm in length, which lives in a temperate soil environment. ... Binomial name Drosophila melanogaster Meigen, 1830 Drosophila melanogaster (from the Greek for black-bellied dew-lover) is a dipteran (two-winged) insect, and is the species of fruit fly that is most commonly used in genetic experiments; it is among the most important model organisms. ... Drosophila has long been a favorite model system for geneticists and developmental biologists studying embroygenesis. ... Plant embryogenesis is a sexual or asexual reproductive process that forms new plants. ... Binomial name Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. ... Binomial name Zea mays L. Maize (Zea mays ssp. ... Species This list is currently incomplete Section Antirrhinum Antirrhinum australe Antirrhinum barrelieri Antirrhinum boissieri Antirrhinum braun-blanquetii Antirrhinum charidemi Antirrhinum graniticum Antirrhinum grosii Antirrhinum hispanicum Antirrhinum latifolium Antirrhinum lopesianum Antirrhinum majus Antirrhinum meonanthum Antirrhinum microphyllum Antirrhinum molle Antirrhinum onubensis Antirrhinum pertegasii Antirrhinum pulverulentum Antirrhinum rupestre Antirrhinum sempervirens Antirrhinum siculum Antirrhinum...

Developmental systems biology

Computer simulation of multicellular development is a research methodology to understand the function of the very complex processes involved in the development of organisms. This includes simulation of cell signaling, multicell interactions and regulatory genomic networks in development of multicellular structures and processes (see Biological Physics of the Developing Embryo). Minimal genomes for minimal multicellular organisms may pave the way to understand such complex processes in vivo. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Genome is also a popular science book by Matt Ridley. ...

Contents

Molecular mechanisms of development

Concepts in developmental biology

Developmental model organisms

Developmental systems biology

See also

Sources

Contents

Molecular mechanisms of development GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");

Concepts in developmental biology

Developmental model organisms

Developmental systems biology

See also

Sources

Molecular mechanisms of development