Developmental biology, the study of the growth and development and related activities of plants and animals, aims to understand the whole process from a zygote (or equivalent) to a functional, full-structured, and multicellular adult organism. The scope of developmental biology also contains the biology of metamorphosis, reproduction, regeneration, and the growth and differentiation of stem cells. Developmental processes are crucial in almost all the formation and function maintenance of cells, tissues, organs, and the whole organism, highlighting the significance of developmental biology as a key discipline in life science, raising profound and weighty questions at different levels of organisms, as well as utilizing model organisms strategically.
Embryogenesis is a consecutive process from the fertilization of an egg (or equivalent) to an embryo mediated by changes in gene expression and transitions in morphogenesis, and intensively regulated by a small number of intercellular signaling pathways which are evolutionarily conserved.
Fig.1 Phases of human embryogenesis.1
Lineage specification refers to the process of directing a multipotent cell type to a specific cell fate in organism development, which is demonstrated to be dependent on nonmuscle myosin II and affected by matrix stiffness. Clarifying the mechanisms of lineage specification is of great biological significance for the production of cells in applications for regenerative medicine.
Fig.2 A model for lineage specification.2
Organogenesis is the process of organ formation and development from embryonic cells (or equivalent) of an organism, which starts from the end of gastrulation and persists until birth. The process undergoes cell differentiation that regulated by both extracellular signals (e.g. juxtracrine signaling or paracrine signaling) and intracellular signals (autocrine signaling).
Post-embryonic development refers to processes occurring in periods after embryogenesis, includes but is not limited to extensive growth, and morphogenesis & patterning during the whole adult form development and maintenance. The process is dependent on DNA modifications to regulate expression levels of related genes and histone modifications (including methylations and acetylation).
Reproduction, which means producing offspring, can be divided into two forms as sexual/asexual reproduction. It is one of the most fundamental activities of all organisms.
Considering the importance of developmental processes for organisms, developmental biology research contributes to accelerating the advance of applications for a broad spectrum of diseases and conditions, from wound healing or scar prevention, to the promising strategies of stem cells utilized in transplanting cartilage in damaged discs, or replacing brain cells in dementia. Developmental biology has provided vast guidance and knowledge for clinical research and practice.
As a leader in antibody research and development, Amerigo Scientific has gained rich knowledge and resources in targeting various biological processes involved with developmental biology, especially the genes and pathways within. We are proud to introduce our antibody products for various applications to our esteemed clients around the world, please feel free to contact us for more information.
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