Developmental Biology

Outlook

Developmental biology is a branch of science that deals with the study of organisms’ growth and development. Embryology is sub-specialty of developmental biology that deals mainly with development of embryo from zygote or spore. Both developmental biology and embryology work hand in hand for betterment of individual living organism. Gene controls the development of new organism. Developmental biology studies helps in inference of chromosomal abruption and mutation. Development models are introduced to understand the physiological mechanism.

Evolutionary developmental biology

The branch of science that deals with comparison of developmental process from their ancestors is referred as evolutionary developmental biology. It helps in better understanding of origin of species developed, production of unique behaviors and evolutionary changes that took place, ecological effects and impacts and relationship between phylogeny and ontogeny. It was widely distributed in the 1990s.

Model organisms

Model organisms that are mentioned below helps in proper understanding of evolutionary changes.

• Vertebrates
  • Zebra fish like Danio rerio, a tropical freshwater aquarium fish
  • Medakafish like Oryzias latipes or Japanese killifish
  • Pufferfish Takifugu
  • Xenopus levis
  • Xenopus tropicalis
  • Gallus gallus, red junglefowl
  • Mus musculus, house mouse
• Invertebrates
  • Drosophila melanogaster, common fruit fly or vinegar fly
  • Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, a California purple Sea urchin
  • Caenorhabditis elegans, nematode
  • Ciona intestinalis, urochordata
  • Lancelet
• Plant
  • Physcomitrella patens , moss
  • Arabidopsis thaliana, a flowering plant
  • Antirrhinum majus, common snap dragon     
  • Maize
• Microorganism
  • Dictyostelium discoideum, amoeba

Phenomena of development

• Differentiation of cell

Cells gets differentiated in to nerve cells, brain cells, skin cells, cardiac cells and so on from original cell called zygote or spore. Similar pattern of gene expression like protein signaling and transcription factor is maintained throughout. Cells can be altered by proper regulation and communication.

• Embryonic development

First stage of fertilization is embryogenesis. Embryogenesis is referred as development of embryo from fertilized egg. Patterning helps in providing signal to cells that are present near their surfaces. Abruption in embryonic development can result in miscarriage or abortions or mutated off springs. Reasons for abruption can be life style and/ or environmental factors.

• Growth of cell

After the embryonic development, each cell starts growing. Cells are proliferated and are distinct from other types of cells. Size of cell growth depends on growth factors involved.

• Metamorphosis

When the larva grows in to mature adult, then this process of life cycle is referred as metamorphosis. For instance caterpillars and butterflies life cycle is metamorphosis.

• Cell regeneration

Regeneration of cells is a repair mechanism. The injured or missed cell starts growing. For instance, salamanders develops complete limb after amputation. It is also feasible in humans except liver cells regeneration.