developmental-biology

name	developmental-biology
description	Embryonic development and morphogenesis
license	MIT
compatibility	opencode
metadata	{"audience":"developmental biologists, researchers, students","category":"biology"}

What I do

• Study embryonic development and organogenesis
• Analyze pattern formation mechanisms
• Investigate cell differentiation and fate determination
• Research morphogen gradients and signaling
• Study gene regulation during development
• Analyze developmental evolution

When to use me

• When studying embryonic development
• When analyzing pattern formation
• When investigating organ development
• When researching stem cell differentiation
• When studying developmental diseases
• When analyzing evolutionary developmental biology

Key Concepts

Developmental Stages

Model Organisms

• C. elegans: Fixed cell lineage
• Drosophila: Genetic model
• Zebrafish: Transparent embryos
• Xenopus: External development
• Mouse: Mammalian model

Pattern Formation

Morphogens

• BMP: Bone morphogenetic protein
• Wnt: Cell fate specification
• Hedgehog: Segmentation
• FGF: Growth and patterning
• Shh: Sonic hedgehog

Gene Regulatory Networks

# Example: Segment polarity network (simplified)
segment_polarity_network = {
    'engrailed': 'activated_by_en',
    'wingless': 'expressed_in_anterior',
    'hedgehog': 'expressed_in_posterior'
}
# Key: Cell-cell communication controls segment pattern

Key Processes

• Fertilization and zygote formation
• Cleavage and blastula formation
• Gastrulation: Germ layer formation
• Neurulation: Nervous system formation
• Organogenesis: Organ formation
• Metamorphosis: Body plan changes