Developmental Processes Research Articles

Bellymount-Pulsed Tracking: A Novel Approach for Real-Time In vivo Imaging of Drosophila Abdominal Tissues

Abstract Quantitative live imaging is a valuable tool that offers insights into cellular dynamics. However, many fundamental biological processes are incompatible with current live imaging modalities. Drosophila oogenesis is a well-studied system that has provided molecular insights into a range of cellular and developmental processes. The length of the oogenesis coupled with the requirement for inputs from multiple tissues has made long-term culture challenging. Here, we have developed Bellymount-Pulsed Tracking (Bellymount-PT), which allows continuous, non-invasive live imaging of Drosophila oogenesis inside the female abdomen for up to 16 hours. Bellymount-PT improves upon the existing Bellymount technique by adding pulsed anesthesia with periods of feeding that support the long-term survival of flies during imaging. Using Bellymount-PT we measure key events of oogenesis including egg chamber growth, yolk uptake, and transfer of specific proteins to the oocyte during nurse cell dumping with high spatiotemporal precision within the abdomen of a live female.

The E3 ligase TaE3V-B1 ubiquitinates proteins encoded by the vernalization gene TaVRN1 and regulates developmental processes in wheat

Abstract In wheat (Triticum aestivum), early maturity is desired to avoid the hot and dry summer season, especially in view of climate change. Here, we report that TaE3V1, a C3H2C3 RING-type E3 ligase that interacts with TaVRN1, is associated with early development. Aside from its RING domain, TaE3V1 does not harbor any domains that are conserved in other RING-type or other E3 ligase proteins. TaE3V-B1b, encoded by the functional TaE3V1 allele, interacts with and ubiquitinates TaVRN1. In contrast, TaE3V-B1a, encoded by a natural nonfunctional TaE3V1 allele, neither interacts with TaVRN1 nor has E3 ligase activity. TaE3V-B1b activity decreases with plant age under warmer temperatures, but not under the low temperatures required for vernalization. We employed a gene editing method to simultaneously inactivate the three homoeologous TaE3V1 genes to validate their functions. Overall, our results suggest that the naturally mutated and edited TaE3V1 alleles can accelerate wheat development and aid adaptation to warming climates.

Development and Implementation of the “Keluarga Carade” App: Optimising Information Technology-Based Stunting Surveys to Support Public Health Efforts

Stunting represents a persistent malnutrition issue that impedes children's physical and cognitive development, with potentially lasting impacts throughout their lives. This study aims to develop and implement the Keluarga Carade app, a real-time information technology-based stunting survey system intended to assist surveyors in collecting public health data in Jeneponto Regency. The app was constructed using the Laravel framework and MySQL for data storage, offering features such as family data management, prospective bride data management, questionnaire data input, survey result evaluation, and coordinate point visualization. The study adopted the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model to evaluate user acceptance, focusing on four variables: Performance Expectancy (PE), Effort Expectancy (EE), Social Influence (SI), and Facilitating Conditions (FC). Data collection was carried out using a Likert-scale questionnaire with a sample of 32 public health surveyors selected through purposive sampling, and the data were subsequently analysed for validity, reliability, and correlation. The findings confirmed the validity and reliability of all variables, with strong positive correlations observed, highlighting the app’s ease of use, functionality, and effectiveness in supporting stunting survey activities. The Keluarga Carade app demonstrates the potential to optimise stunting monitoring by facilitating efficient data collection and analysis, thus supporting public health efforts to combat stunting. Future research may explore the app’s long-term impact on reducing stunting rates and its integration within broader public health frameworks.

C. elegans PPEF-type phosphatase (Retinal degeneration C ortholog) functions in diverse classes of cilia to regulate nematode behaviors.

Primary (non-motile) cilia represent structurally and functionally diverse organelles whose roles as specialized cellular antenna are central to animal cell signaling pathways, sensory physiology and development. An ever-growing number of ciliary proteins, including those found in vertebrate photoreceptors, have been uncovered and linked to human disorders termed ciliopathies. Here, we demonstrate that an evolutionarily-conserved PPEF-family serine-threonine phosphatase, not functionally linked to cilia in any organism but associated with rhabdomeric (non-ciliary) photoreceptor degeneration in the Drosophila rdgC(retinal degeneration C) mutant, is a bona fide ciliary protein in C.elegans. The nematode protein, PEF-1, depends on transition zone proteins, which make up a 'ciliary gate' in the proximal-most region of the cilium, for its compartmentalization within cilia. Animals lacking PEF-1 protein function display structural defects to several types of cilia, including potential degeneration of microtubules. They also exhibit anomalies to cilium-dependent behaviors, including impaired responses to chemical, temperature, light, and noxious CO2 stimuli. Lastly, we demonstrate that PEF-1 function depends on conserved myristoylation and palmitoylation signals. Collectively, our findings broaden the role of PPEF proteins to include cilia, and suggest that the poorly-characterized mammalian PPEF1 and PPEF2 orthologs may also have ciliary functions and thus represent ciliopathy candidates.

Staring into a crystall ball: understanding evolution and development of in vivo aquatic organismal transparency

Organismal transparency is an ecologically important trait that can provide camouflage advantages to diverse organisms. Transparent organisms are quite common—especially in oceans. Organismal transparency requires low absorption and scattering of light in the body across multi-scale levels. However, it is still not fully understood how such organisms achieve these requirements. Understanding this process requires multiple approaches from various fields and methods. Here, we offer recent insights on this topic from the viewpoints of evolution, developmental biology, and evaluation methodologies of organismal transparency. We also propose “organismal transparency biology” as a new interdisciplinary field of study. Furthermore, we suggest that tunicates are an ideal model animal for studying in vivo organismal transparency.

El teatro como un acontecimiento pedagógico de Juan Campesino

The first part of this book was led by a historical vision and synthetic purposes, the avatars of the recently named “theatre pedagogy” being reviewed in their different aspects: theatre in school, school theatre, curricular design, institutional programs, teacher training, drama in the classroom, focusing mainly on the case of Mexico, although without leaving aside, certainly, the place that our country occupies in the framework of global culture. The second part goes into a pedagogical perspective regarding children’s developmental processes, the educational aspects of theatre and, above all, of that phenomenon which is common to theatrical art and to a certain genre of games, usually known as theatricality.

Research on the construction of campus football teaching content hierarchical system and flexible management

In response to the national requirements for the development of campus football and addressing the current imbalance in the development of campus football teaching in China, this study discusses the construction of a football teaching content hierarchical system and flexible management that aligns with China's national conditions. It also elaborates on management strategies for the implementation of categorized guidance, flexible management, and enhanced inspection and evaluation in football teaching. Based on the systematic principles of constructing a campus football teaching content hierarchical system, as well as the basic rules of football tactics and teaching practice, campus football teaching content is divided into three levels: primary, intermediate, and advanced, with ten proficiency levels. The content at each level includes corresponding basic theoretical knowledge of football, football techniques and tactics, mental health education, and physical development. When arranging the teaching content at each level, it is essential to fully consider the matching of football knowledge and tactics, and to organically integrate football knowledge, skills with physical training, and comprehensive quality education. The implementation of flexible management should be practical, proposing different requirements for football teaching in schools of different types and regions, implementing categorized guidance and management; it is necessary to strengthen institutional construction, and use inspection and evaluation as a driving force to promote the sustainable development of football teaching.

OS IMPACTOS DA TERAPIA ASSISTIDA POR ANIMAIS (TAA) NA IMUNIDADE DOS CÃES: BENEFÍCIOS E DESAFIOS

Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) is a specific type of intervention or treatment, working with the contribution of Veterinary Medicine, with the aim of promoting the social, cognitive, physical or emotional development of human beings who interact with animals. However, there is still no Federal Law in Brazil that regulates Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT), with certification to ensure the health and well-being of the animals involved. This article intends to have a scoping review of the literature, with the aim of contributing to new theoretical knowledge on the topic. Therefore, this research will demonstrate a brief report on therapeutic practice and the objective of this study is to identify the direct impacts that Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) causes on the immunity of the dogs involved, highlighting benefits and challenges that this activity can bring into active practice. In view of the above, the practical performance of the Golden retriever therapy dog ​​called “Beacon Miller” and affectionately nicknamed “Goodest Boy” was reflected worldwide at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, with a notable role of emotional and psychological support, which benefited not just the athletes, but also the coaches and family members, demonstrating the post-therapy challenges for the therapy dog. Thus, this present study aims to update future Veterinarians on the importance of the therapeutic practice carried out through dogs called Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT), demonstrating the essential role that the Veterinarian has in supervising and monitoring the animal. It is essential that this activity also benefits therapy dogs, preserving the health and well-being of the animal that contributed to a social and humanitarian activity. Therefore, the Veterinarian's frequent observation of dogs in therapeutic activity, before, during and after activities, is extremely important to detect impacts or extreme situations early, thus ensuring that the animal acts comfortably in this therapeutic practice.

Nutritional Status and Anemia among Scheduled Caste Adolescent Girls of District Yamunanagar, Haryana, India

Background: During adolescence, nutrition is crucial for physical and cognitive development, yet socio-economic disparities and nutritional deficiencies, especially in girls, lead to health vulnerabilities, including high anemia rates. Despite recent data from the National Family Health Survey, there is limited information on adolescents aged 11-16 years, requiring targeted research. This cross-sectional study aims to assess the nutritional status, determine the prevalence of anemia, and explore associated factors among adolescent girls of the scheduled caste in District Yamunanagar, Haryana, India. Methods: The study sampled 450 scheduled caste girls aged 11-16 years from schools in District Yamunanagar, Haryana. Height and weight were measured to calculate Body Mass Index (BMI). Data on micro-environmental factors, socio-economic and demographic variables, and dietary habits were collected through interview-based schedule. Hemoglobin levels were measured using Sahli’s Acid Haematin technique, and nutritional status was assessed using the World Health Organization (WHO) standards (Z-score method). Results: The study found increases in height, weight, and BMI with age, with notable spurts at 12-13 years for height and 11-12 years for weight and BMI. Significant differences in height, weight, and BMI were observed between age groups. Moreover, 92.2% girls were found to be anemic, with most of them suffering from moderate anemia. Additionally, the prevalence of stunting was 67.33% and wasting was 64.90% among the girls. Household size, number of family members and menarcheal status of the girls showed a significant association with the nutritional status and anemic of the girls. Conclusion: The study emphasizes the need of regular screening and timely interventions to improve the nutritional and anemic status of adolescent girls.

Joseph G. Gall (1928-2024): Cell biologist, naturalist, and mentor extraordinaire.

Joseph Grafton Gall (1928-2024), a founder of modern cell biology, made foundational discoveries on eukaryotic chromosomes and RNA biogenesis. His major contributions include the development of in situ hybridization (later called FISH), demonstration of one DNA double helix/chromosome, isolation of the first eukaryote gene, localization of satellite DNA to centromeric heterochromatin, determination of the first telomeric DNA sequence, and elucidating the structure and functions of Cajal bodies. He was an expert microscopist, a scholar of science history, and an avid naturalist. These attributes, together with his ready embrace of new technologies, contributed to his remarkable success. He was also an early and strong supporter of women in science. His contributions to science and mentoring were recognized by numerous awards including the American Society for Cell Biology's E.B. Wilson Medal, the Society for Developmental Biology's Lifetime Achievement Award, the Albert Lasker Special Achievement Award in Medical Research, and the AAAS Mentor Award for Lifetime Achievement.

Detailed phenotyping of Tbr1-2A-CreER knock-in mice demonstrates significant impacts on TBR1 protein levels and axon development.

Cre recombinase knock-in mouse lines have served as invaluable genetic tools for understanding key developmental processes altered in autism. However, insertion of exogenous DNA into the genome can have unintended effects on local gene regulation or protein function that must be carefully considered. Here, we analyze a recently generated Tbr1-2A-CreER knock-in mouse line, where a 2A-CreER cassette was inserted in-frame before the stop codon of the transcription factor gene Tbr1. Heterozygous TBR1 mutations in humans and mice are known to cause autism or autism-like behavioral phenotypes accompanied by structural brain malformations, most frequently a reduction of the anterior commissure (AC). Thus, it is critical for modified versions of Tbr1 to exhibit true wild-type-like activity. We evaluated the Tbr1-2A-CreER allele for its potential impact on Tbr1 function and complementation to Tbr1 loss-of-function alleles. In mice with one copy of the Tbr1-2A-CreER allele, we identified reduction of TBR1 protein in early postnatal cortex along with thinning of the AC, suggesting hypersensitivity of this structure to TBR1 dosage. Comparing Tbr1-2A-CreER and Tbr1-null mice to Tbr1-null complementation crosses showed reductions of TBR1 dosage ranging from 20% to 100%. Using six combinatorial genotypes, we found that moderate to severe TBR1 reductions (≥44%) were associated with cortical layer 5 expansion, while only the complete absence of TBR1 was associated with reeler-like "inverted" cortical layering. In total, these results strongly support the conclusion that Tbr1-2A-CreER is a hypomorphic allele. We advise caution when interpreting experiments using this allele, considering the sensitivity of various corticogenic processes to TBR1 dosage and the association of heterozygous TBR1 mutations with complex neurodevelopmental disorders.

Over 25 years of decrypting PIN-mediated plant development.

Identification of PIN exporters for auxin, the major coordinative signal in plants, some 25 years ago, signifies a landmark in our understanding of plant-specific mechanisms underlying development and adaptation. Auxin is directionally transported throughout the plant body; a unique feature already envisioned by Darwin and solidified by PINs' discovery and characterization. The PIN-based auxin distribution network with its complex regulations of PIN expression, localization and activity turned out to underlie a remarkable multitude of developmental processes and represents means to integrate endogenous and environmental signals. Given the recent anniversary, we here summarize past and current developments in this exciting field.

AI-powered simulation-based inference of a genuinely spatial-stochastic gene regulation model of early mouse embryogenesis.

Understanding how multicellular organisms reliably orchestrate cell-fate decisions is a central challenge in developmental biology, particularly in early mammalian development, where tissue-level differentiation arises from seemingly cell-autonomous mechanisms. In this study, we present a multi-scale, spatial-stochastic simulation framework for mouse embryogenesis, focusing on inner cell mass (ICM) differentiation into epiblast (EPI) and primitive endoderm (PRE) at the blastocyst stage. Our framework models key regulatory and tissue-scale interactions in a biophysically realistic fashion, capturing the inherent stochasticity of intracellular gene expression and intercellular signaling, while efficiently simulating these processes by advancing event-driven simulation techniques. Leveraging the power of Simulation-Based Inference (SBI) through the AI-driven Sequential Neural Posterior Estimation (SNPE) algorithm, we conduct a large-scale Bayesian inferential analysis to identify parameter sets that faithfully reproduce experimentally observed features of ICM specification. Our results reveal mechanistic insights into how the combined action of autocrine and paracrine FGF4 signaling coordinates stochastic gene expression at the cellular scale to achieve robust and reproducible ICM patterning at the tissue scale. We further demonstrate that the ICM exhibits a specific time window of sensitivity to exogenous FGF4, enabling lineage proportions to be adjusted based on timing and dosage, thereby extending current experimental findings and providing quantitative predictions for both mutant and wild-type ICM systems. Notably, FGF4 signaling not only ensures correct EPI-PRE lineage proportions but also enhances ICM resilience to perturbations, reducing fate-proportioning errors by 10-20% compared to a purely cell-autonomous system. Additionally, we uncover a surprising role for variability in intracellular initial conditions, showing that high gene-expression heterogeneity can improve both the accuracy and precision of cell-fate proportioning, which remains robust when fewer than 25% of the ICM population experiences perturbed initial conditions. Our work offers a comprehensive, spatial-stochastic description of the biochemical processes driving ICM differentiation and identifies the necessary conditions for its robust unfolding. It also provides a framework for future exploration of similar spatial-stochastic systems in developmental biology.

Class III peroxidase: An essential enzyme for enhancing plant physiological and developmental process by maintaining the ROS level: A review.

Since plants are sessile organisms, they are inevitably exposed to various environmental stresses, and the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) could affect the growth and development of plants. ROS play either positive or negative roles in various plant life activities as a two-edge sword. Class III peroxidase (CIII PRX) is a highly conserved antioxidant enzyme family specifically identified in plants, which is involved in maintaining ROS homeostasis in the cell and plays multiple functions in plant growth metabolism and stress response. In this review, the classification and structure of CIII PRXs are represented, and the roles of CIII PRXs in physiological and developmental processes such as plant growth, cell wall modification, loosening and stiffening, and lignin biosynthesis are described in detail. The molecular mechanisms of CIII PRXs in response to abiotic stress such as salt and drought, and biological stress such as pathogens invasion are introduced, with emphasis on the research results of PRX related genes in signal transduction. Furthermore, we summarize the difficulty in exploring the function of individual CIII PRX gene due to functional redundancy and promising technique that may break this research bottleneck.

A conserved sequence that sparked the field of evo-devo.

The discovery that homeotic genes in Drosophila are conserved and utilized for embryonic development throughout the animal kingdom, including humans, revolutionized the fields of developmental biology and evolutionary developmental biology (evo-devo). In a pair of back-to-back papers published in Cell in 1984, researchers at the Biozentrum in Basel, Switzerland, showed that the homeobox - previously identified as a sequence shared by homeotic genes in Drosophila - was also present in the genome of diverse animals. The first paper (McGinnis et al., 1984a) showed that genomes of both invertebrates and vertebrates contain sequences that cross-hybridized with Drosophila homeobox probes. The second paper (Carrasco et al., 1984) identified a cross-hybridizing sequence in the model system Xenopus laevis. They then isolated the first vertebrate homeobox-containing gene by cloning and sequencing of the corresponding genomic region. Finally, they showed that this gene (AC1, later renamed HoxC6) was expressed during embryonic development, the first evidence that developmentally expressed Drosophila genes could be used to isolate regulators of vertebrate embryonic development. These findings led to a flurry of activity in the evo-devo field, initially focused on isolating Hox genes across diverse species, and then expanding to isolation of other gene families based on Drosophila orthologs, an approach that continues today. This led to the notion of a conserved genetic toolkit for embryonic development, currently accepted, but unexpected at the time of its discovery. We attempt to provide some context for the sea-change in thinking that these discoveries brought about by referring to Jean Piaget's theories about the sequential acquisition of scientific knowledge.

Peripheral straightness leads to shape diversification during formations of entire leaves.

The ways to read out positional information are essential to determine final shapes in developmental processes. Relative shaping to different sizes of positional information enables robust morphogenesis; however, the same difference sometimes causes diversity. Different responses to a positional information will enable such switching of identical/diverse shapes, though detail mechanisms remain unknown. In this paper, we describe growing forms by constructing the contour of a two-dimensional object using propagating points and segments connecting them. In plant morphogenesis that lacks almost cell movements, tissue growth accompanied by cell divisions is central. We focused on peripheral cell composition in leaf formation as a frame. The growth with or without cell division on the periphery was analyzed with simple algorithms. We calculated the shapes of entire leaves with different ovality using combined growth algorithms as a model. Responces of the respective algorithms to simple positional information were explored to seek the origin of the shape diversification. The algorithm for "growth with cell divisions" maintained identical shapes; however, diverse shapes were generated by the algorithm "growth without cell division" with gradients. The simplified model allowed us to interpret the oval shape diversity due to slants on edges. We concluded that peripheral straightness can generate shape diversity, at least in leaf morphogenesis.

The Relationship Between Stunting and Delays in Motor and Cognitive Development in Infants Aged 0-24 Months

Aims: This Research to elucidating the relationship between stunting and delays in motor and cognitive development. Infants aged 0-24 months were selected for investigation because this period is a critical window during which the impact of stunting is most evident in the physical and mental development of children. Instrument & Method. The research instruments used include in-depth interviews with mothers of infants and local health workers as well as direct observation of infant motor and cognitive development. The research method applied was a qualitative approach with thematic analysis. Findings The results showed that stunting has a significant contribution to delays in motor and cognitive development, especially in infants aged 12-24 months. These delays are seen in motor skills such as sitting and walking, as well as cognitive delays in responding to stimuli and communicating. Conclusion: The findings of this research demonstrate a strong correlation between stunting and delays in motor and cognitive development in infants aged 0-24 months. Infants with stunted growth exhibit significant delays in reaching motor developmental milestones, such as sitting, crawling, and walking, as well as delays in cognitive abilities, including responding to stimuli, remembering, and speaking.

Studying the characteristics of physical development of young athletes

Medical and biological support for the training of young athletes is a separate specific part of medical science and practice. This area of medicine includes determining the health and physical development of athletes, as well as diagnosing, treating and preventing diseases and injuries associated with physical education and sports. The main goal of medical and biological support for children’s and youth sports is the harmonious development of the child within the chosen sport, taking into account his age characteristics, functionality, physical development, including puberty.Objective. The purpose of the study is to investigate the characteristics of the physical development of young athletes of various specializations.Materials and methods: 102 young teenage athletes took part in the study. The control group consisted of 28 schoolchildren who were not involved in sports professionally. The first group of the study included 35 young athletes from the «Children and Youth Sports School of Swimming». The second group of the study consisted of 47 teenagers, students of a specialized children’s and youth sports school of the Olympic reserve in field hockey. The third group of the study included 20 young athletes, students of a specialized children’s and youth sports school of Olympic reserve fencing.Results: In terms of physical development parameters, young athletes have indicators above the average values of children in the control group. The percentage of body fat in boys and girls in the control group was significantly higher than in young athletes. At the same time, the level of muscle mass of boys who do not engage in sports is lower than that of the group of athletes.Conclusions: Based on the results of the work, it was established that the physical development of young athletes has significant differences from their peers who do not play sports professionally.

Harnessing full-text publications for deep insights into C. elegans and Drosophila biomaps.

In the rapidly expanding domain of scientific research, tracking and synthesizing information from the rapidly increasing volume of publications pose significant challenges. To address this, we introduce a novel high-throughput pipeline that employs ChatGPT to systematically extract and analyze connectivity information from the full-texts and abstracts of 24,237 and 150,538 research publications concerning Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila melanogaster, respectively. This approach has effectively identified 200,219 and 1,194,587 interactions within the C. elegans and Drosophila biomaps, respectively. Utilizing Cytoscape Web, we have developed a searchable online biomaps that link relevant keywords to their corresponding PubMed IDs, thus providing seamless access to an extensive knowledge network encompassing C. elegans and Drosophila. Our work highlights the transformative potential of integrating artificial intelligence with bioinformatics to deepen our understanding of complex biological systems. By revealing the intricate web of relationships among key entities in C. elegans and Drosophila, we offer invaluable insights that promise to propel advancements in genetics, developmental biology, neuroscience, longevity, and beyond. We also provide details and discuss significant nodes within both biomaps, including the insulin/IGF-1 signaling (IIS) and the notch pathways. Our innovative methodology sets a robust foundation for future research aimed at unravelling complex biological networks across diverse organisms. The two databases are available at worm.bio-map.com and drosophila.bio-map.com.

Abstract IA025: A DNA methylation atlas of normal human cell types

Abstract DNA methylation is a fundamental epigenetic mark that governs gene expression and chromatin organization, thus providing a window into cellular identity and developmental processes. Current datasets typically include only a fraction of methylation sites and are often based either on cell lines that underwent massive changes in culture or on tissues containing unspecified mixtures of cells. Here we describe a human methylome atlas, based on deep whole-genome bisulfite sequencing, allowing fragment-level analysis across thousands of unique markers for 39 cell types sorted from 205 healthy tissue samples. Replicates of the same cell type are more than 99.5% identical, demonstrating the robustness of cell identity programmes to environmental perturbation. Unsupervised clustering of the atlas recapitulates key elements of tissue ontogeny and identifies methylation patterns retained since embryonic development. Loci uniquely unmethylated in an individual cell type often reside in transcriptional enhancers and contain DNA binding sites for tissue-specific transcriptional regulators. Uniquely hypermethylated loci are rare and are enriched for CpG islands, Polycomb targets and CTCF binding sites, suggesting a new role in shaping cell-type-specific chromatin looping. The atlas provides an essential resource for study of gene regulation and disease-associated genetic variants, and a wealth of potential tissue-specific biomarkers for use in liquid biopsies. Citation Format: Tommy Kaplan. A DNA methylation atlas of normal human cell types [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Liquid Biopsy: From Discovery to Clinical Implementation; 2024 Nov 13-16; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2024;30(21_Suppl):Abstract nr IA025.