Talk:Molecular Development

I am 2.85 billion nucleotides of DNA, but so is a chimpanzee, and all this DNA encodes only about 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes.

In development, I am not that different from a mouse or a fly and many of the signals that regulate development are used time and time again.

We have come a long way from just observing development to now wanting to understand how the complex program of development is controlled. Using new research tools and some excellent animal models researchers have discovered common themes and mechanisms that tie all embryonic development together.

Molecular mechanisms of development is an exciting area and requires a variety of different skills. This page introduces only a few examples and should give you a feel for the topic. Note that each section of system notes has a page covering molecular Development in that system.