An ever-growing roster of model organisms is a hallmark of 21st century Developmental Biology. Emerging model organisms are well suited to asking some fascinating and important questions that cannot be addressed using established model systems.  Meer

Mechanics in Development and Disease, Volume 160 in the Current Topics in Developmental Biology series, highlights new advances in the field, with this new volume presenting interesting chapters on a variety of timely topics, including Gut developmental mechanics, Long bone developmental mechanics, Cranial plate fusion developmental mechanics, Mechanobiology and vasculogenesis, Morphogenesis and mechanics of the developing inner ear, Morphogenesis and mechanics of body wall closure in mammals, Salivary bud developmental mechanics, Lateral plate mesoderm developmental mechanics, Biomechanics of human embryo implantation, gastrulation, and organ formation, Mechanics of lung development across species, Mechanics early development in vertebrates.  Meer

Cell-Cell Signaling in Development, Volume 150 covers new approaches and topics surrounding the diversity of animals, with recognized species now in the millions.  Meer

Meiosis in Development and Disease, Volume 151 in the Current Topics in Developmental Biology series, highlights new advances in the field, with this new volume presenting interesting chapters on topics such as The initiation stages of meiosis, The molecular basis and dynamics of meiotic cohesions, and their significance in human infertility, Chromatin, recombination, and the centromeres, Sites and structures that mediate segregation when crossing over calls out sick/Life (or at Least Meiosis) Without Crossing Over, Crossover maturation inefficiency, Non coding RNA mediated gene regulation in meiosis, Short chromosomes in meiotic recombination, Chromatin level changes during meiosis initiation vs.  Meer

Wnt Signaling in Development and Disease, Volume 153, delves into the biology of Wnt signaling in a wide variety of model organisms. Since their first identification in 1982, Wnt proteins and their downstream effectors have captivated the attention of many researchers in a variety of fields, including developmental biology, cell signaling, structural biology, stem and cancer cell biology and regeneration.  Meer

A subgroup of homeobox genes, which play an important role in the developmental processes of a variety of multicellular organisms, Hox genes have been shown to play a critical role in vertebrate pattern formation.  Meer

Understanding organogenesis is central to current efforts to direct stem cell differentiation and function in the context of a complex organ. Defects in organogenesis are often the major manifestations of human genetic disease syndromes.  Meer

Notch signaling is an evolutionarily conserved pathway in multicellular organisms that regulates cell-fate determination during development and in stem cells.  Meer

Muscle Stem Cells, Volume 158 in the Current Topics of Developmental Biology series, highlights new advances in the field, with this new volume presenting interesting chapters on topics surrounding Muscle stem cell dysfunction in rhabdomyosarcoma and muscular dystrophy, Model systems used to study MuSC function, MuSCs in the growth and maintenance of muscle, Molecular regulation of myocyte fusion, A self-made quiescent niche of muscle stem cells, Characterization of the muscle regenerative environment, Role of microenvironment on muscle stem cell function in health, adaptation, and disease, Vascular Niche for Muscle Stem Cells, Regulation of muscle stem cell polarity in health and disease, and more.  Meer

Organizers in Development, Volume 157 in the Current Topics in Developmental Biology series, highlights new advances in the field, with this new volume presenting interesting chapters on topics such as The organizer: what it meant, and means, to developmental biology, Organizers/signaling regions that pattern the limb, Organizers/signaling regions in the branchial arches, The notochord/floor plate as a possible organizer, Transport and gradient formation of Wnt and Fgf in the early zebrafish gastrula, and more.  Meer

This new volume of Current Topics in Developmental Biology covers recent progresses in our understanding of animal metamorphosis. Over a dozen of leading experts reviews studies ranging from morphological, molecular to genetic analyses of metamorphosis in a broad spectrum of animals, including insects, fish.  Meer

This new volume of Current Topics in Developmental Biology covers developmental timing, with contributions from an international board of authors. The chapters provide a comprehensive set of reviews covering such topics as the timing of developmental programs in Drosophila, temporal patterning of neural progenitors, and environmental modulation of developmental timing.  Meer

Volume 109 of Current Topics in Developmental Biology covers mouse models of the nuclear envelopathies and related diseases, with contributions from an international board of authors.  Meer

Mammalian Preimplantation Development, the latest volume in the Current Topics in Developmental Biology series covers mammalian preimplantation development, and includes contributions from an international board of authors.  Meer

Myogenesis in Development and Disease, Volume 126, the latest volume in the Current Topics in Developmental Biology series, covers major topics of research in myogenesis, with a particular emphasis on regeneration and muscle disease.  Meer

Cell adhesion is a fundamental determinant of embryonic development and organogenesis. Cellular Adhesion in Development and Disease, volume 112 in Current Topics in Developmental Biology, comprehensively surveys current developments in understanding how adhesion systems affect organismal development.  Meer

Neural Crest and Placodes provides in-depth coverage of the topic, including information on their critical role in vertebrate development, evolution, and the way defects in their development underlie a wide range of congenital disorders.  Meer

Extracellular Matrix and Egg Coats, Volume 130, the latest release in the Current Topics in Developmental Biology series, highlights new advances in the field, with this new volume presenting interesting chapters on The Human Egg’s Zona Pellucida, the Structure of Zona Pellucida Module Proteins, The Fish Egg’s Zona Pellucidam The Chicken Egg’s Zona Pellucidam The Marsupial Egg’s Zona Pellucida, the Evolution of Zona Pellucida Proteins, The Mouse Egg’s Zona Pellucida, Aspects of ECM, ECM and Morphogenesis, Collagen fibril assembly and function, The Ear's Tectorial Membrane, ECM and Cell Fate, and the Aspects of ECM.  Meer

Nematode Models of Development and Disease, Volume 144 in the Current Topics in Developmental Biology series highlights new advances in the field, with this new volume presenting interesting chapters surrounding Transgenerational inheritance, Oscillatory expression and function, Concepts and functions of small RNA pathways in C.  Meer

Gene-Environment Interactions in Birth Defects and Developmental Disorders, Volume 152, covers the multifactorial etiology of a variety of developmental disorders, including orofacial clefts, fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, autism, and others.  Meer