📄 Category

developmental biology

188 papers

Developmental biology explores the incredible journey of how a single cell transforms into a complex, living organism. This field investigates the molecular switches and cellular conversations that guide growth, tissue formation, and the emergence of unique body structures, helping us understand both the origins of life and the roots of developmental disorders.

At Gist.Science, we ensure you never miss a breakthrough by processing every new preprint in this category from bioRxiv. Our team provides both plain-language explanations and detailed technical summaries for each paper, making cutting-edge research accessible to everyone regardless of their scientific background.

Below are the latest studies in developmental biology, offering fresh insights into how life takes shape.

📄 developmental biology

Cohesin and NuRD Antagonistically Drive Alternative Neuronal Fates via PLZF Transcription Factors

This study reveals that in *C. elegans*, cohesin and the PLZF homolog EOR-1 promote GABAergic neuronal fate, while the NuRD complex and another PLZF homolog (TRA-4) drive an alternative tyraminergic fate when cohesin function is lost, demonstrating an antagonistic mechanism where genome architecture, epigenetic remodeling, and transcriptional regulation cooperate to specify neuronal identity.

Lee, D., Hirose, T., Horvitz, H. R.2026-04-21
📄 developmental biology

Temporal degradation of PRC2 uncovers specific developmental dependencies

By combining rapid protein degradation with a scalable embryoid model, this study reveals that temporal loss of PRC2 causes specific developmental failures driven by ectopic expression of anterior and lateral lineage genes, where gene sensitivity is determined by the presence of cognate transcription factors and the timing of depletion relative to the exit from pluripotency.

Lee, M.-K., Mackowiak, S., Felismino, D., Venhuizen, J., Walther, M., Meissner, A.2026-04-21
📄 developmental biology

Interactions between the myosin Dachs, the adaptor Dlish, and the palmitoyltransferase Approximated mediate Fat-Dachsous signaling

This study elucidates how the adaptor Dlish, palmitoylated by Approximated, mediates the Fat-Dachsous signaling pathway by tethering Dachs to the cortex and coupling it to opposing stabilization and destabilization effects from Ds and Fat, respectively, while protecting Dlish from degradation.

Wang, X., Zhang, Y., Zhai, J., Yang, X., Blair, S. S.2026-04-16
📄 developmental biology

Generation of human hindlimb/genital tubercle progenitors from pluripotent stem cells

This study establishes a human pluripotent stem cell-based platform for generating bipotent hindlimb and genital tubercle progenitors by defining the specific roles of WNT, FGF, BMP, and retinoic acid signaling in their differentiation and demonstrating their developmental potency through self-organization and xenografting.

Uyulgan, S., Sedas Perez, S., Towers, M., Tsakiridis, A.2026-04-16
📄 developmental biology

11β-HSD2 buffers fetal glucocorticoid exposure inducing Per1 expression under maternal stress

This study demonstrates that the enzyme 11β-HSD2 buffers acute maternal glucocorticoid surges to prevent premature Per1 expression and protect the segmentation clock, thereby revealing that the delayed emergence of the fetal circadian clock is an actively regulated mechanism essential for preserving embryonic development under maternal stress.

Yabumoto, K., Umemura, Y., Watanabe, H., Endo, Y., Koike, N., Kakibuchi, A., Sugimoto, A., Mori, T., Kondoh, G., Yagita (…)2026-04-15
📄 developmental biology

Patient iPSC-Derived Cartilage Organoids Reveal Defective ECM Deposition and Altered Chondrogenic Trajectory in Saul-Wilson Syndrome

This study utilizes patient-derived iPSC cartilage organoids to demonstrate that the COG4 mutation underlying Saul-Wilson syndrome disrupts ECM glycosylation and chondrogenic commitment, leading to defective cartilage formation and impaired skeletal growth.

Mahajan, S., Ancel, S., Ascone, G., Kaur, R., Torres, J., Murad, R., Wang, Y. X., Ferreira, C. R., Freeze, H.2026-04-14
📄 developmental biology

Sex-specific multigenerational epigenetic responses to real-world chemical mixture exposure in an outbred sheep model

This study demonstrates that gestational exposure to low-level environmental chemical mixtures in an outbred sheep model induces widespread, sex-specific, and lineage-dependent epigenetic changes that persist intergenerationally but face challenges in distinguishing true transgenerational inheritance from genetically regulated methylation variation.

Hargreaves, O. G., Kwong, W. Y., Warry, A., Tutt, D. A., Padmanabhan, V., Evans, N. P., Lea, R. G., Bellingham, M., Sinc (…)2026-04-10
📄 developmental biology

3D imaging of the pregnant uterus reveals an extensively invasive mouse placenta requiring CXCL12-CXCR4 signaling

By utilizing 3D imaging and genetic perturbations, this study reveals that the mouse placenta invades uterine spiral arteries more extensively than previously recognized and that disrupting early CXCL12-CXCR4 signaling leads to excessive trophoblast invasion mimicking human placenta accreta, thereby establishing the mouse as a superior model for studying balanced uteroplacental development.

Zwierzynski, J. B., Moufarrej, M. N., Red-Horse, K.2026-04-09