Organogenesis: variations on a theme

Abstract

In the most basic sense, an organ represents the coordination of similar cells to accomplish a specific function. Ranging in complexity from the simple tube-shaped heart of Ciona to the uncharted intricacies of the human brain, organs display immense variety in their size, shape, and function. They share, however, a common origin, arising through a process of tightly regulated cell division and differentiation steps from a multipotent progenitor. In this Special Issue of Trends in Genetics, together with a Special Issue in our sister journal Current Opinion in Genetics & Development, we explore different facets of organogenesis, highlighting that the developmental pathways of all organs, from flowers to faces, are variations on a theme.