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Gastrulation

Gastrulation

Gastrulation establishes the three primary tissues of an embryo: the ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. This developmental process relies on a series of intricate cellular movements, which in humans transforms a flat, “bilaminar disc” composed of two cell sheets into a three-tiered structure. In the resulting embryo, the endoderm serves as the bottom layer, and stacked directly above it is the intermediate mesoderm, and then the uppermost ectoderm. Respectively, these tissue strata will form...

Neurulation

Neurulation

Neurulation is the embryological process which forms the precursors of the central nervous system and occurs after gastrulation has established the three primary cell layers of the embryo: ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. In humans, the majority of this system is formed via primary neurulation, in which the central portion of the ectoderm—originally appearing as a flat sheet of cells—folds upwards and inwards, sealing off to form a hollow neural tube. As development proceeds, the anterior...

Determination

Determination

During embryogenesis, cells become progressively committed to different fates through a two-step process: specification followed by determination. Specification is demonstrated by removing a segment of an early embryo, “neutrally” culturing the tissue in vitro—for example, in a petri dish with simple medium—and then observing the derivatives. If the cultured region gives rise to cell types that it would normally generate in the embryo, this means that it is specified. In contrast, determination...

Determining the Plane of Cell Division

Determining the Plane of Cell Division

Positioning the cell division plane is a critical step during development and cell differentiation, particularly during mitosis when the plane is essential for determining the size of the two daughter cells. The cell division plane is perpendicular to the plane of chromosome segregation, but different types of organisms have different cell division mechanisms to suit their morphology and function.
Animal cells
In animal cells, the cleavage furrow forms along the plane of cell division starting...

Development of the Sexual Organs in the Embryo and Fetus

Development of the Sexual Organs in the Embryo and Fetus

Development of the reproductive organs in an embryo starts from a bipotential state. This means the early embryo can develop either male or female reproductive organs. The formation of these organs begins with the growth of gonadal ridges that arise from the intermediate mesoderm during the fifth week of development.
Near the gonadal ridges, two duct systems are present: the mesonephric ducts (Wolffian ducts) and paramesonephric ducts (Müllerian ducts). These ducts form the basis for the male...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 17, 2026

Blastomere Explants to Test for Cell Fate Commitment During Embryonic Development

Blastomere Explants to Test for Cell Fate Commitment During Embryonic Development

Published on: January 26, 2013

Mesoderm induction and axis determination in Xenopus laevis.

¹NICHHD, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892.

Bioessays : News and Reviews in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology

|October 1, 1992

Summary

Mesoderm formation in Xenopus embryos relies on inductive cell signals. The goosecoid gene, expressed in the Spemann organizer, is crucial for establishing the dorsal axis, including head and notochord development.

Area of Science:

Developmental biology
Embryology
Molecular biology

Background:

Mesoderm formation and dorsoventral axis establishment in amphibians and vertebrate embryos depend on inductive cell interactions.
Key inducers include Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF) as a ventrolateral inducer, Activin (a TGF-beta homolog) inducing all mesoderm types, and Wnt family members with dorsalizing effects.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the role of regulatory genes, specifically transcription factors, expressed in the Spemann organizer during Xenopus gastrulation.
To determine the sufficiency of goosecoid gene expression in eliciting dorsal axis formation.

Main Methods:

Analysis of gene expression patterns in Xenopus gastrula embryos.
Focus on genes encoding putative transcription factors within the Spemann organizer region.

More Related Videos

Understanding Early Organogenesis Using a Simplified In Situ Hybridization Protocol in Xenopus

Understanding Early Organogenesis Using a Simplified In Situ Hybridization Protocol in Xenopus

Published on: January 12, 2015

Three and Four-Dimensional Visualization and Analysis Approaches to Study Vertebrate Axial Elongation and Segmentation

Three and Four-Dimensional Visualization and Analysis Approaches to Study Vertebrate Axial Elongation and Segmentation

Published on: February 28, 2021

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 17, 2026

Blastomere Explants to Test for Cell Fate Commitment During Embryonic Development

Blastomere Explants to Test for Cell Fate Commitment During Embryonic Development

Published on: January 26, 2013

Understanding Early Organogenesis Using a Simplified In Situ Hybridization Protocol in Xenopus

Understanding Early Organogenesis Using a Simplified In Situ Hybridization Protocol in Xenopus

Published on: January 12, 2015

Three and Four-Dimensional Visualization and Analysis Approaches to Study Vertebrate Axial Elongation and Segmentation

Three and Four-Dimensional Visualization and Analysis Approaches to Study Vertebrate Axial Elongation and Segmentation

Published on: February 28, 2021

Main Results:

Identified three genes encoding putative transcription factors specifically expressed in the Spemann organizer.
Demonstrated that goosecoid gene expression is sufficient to induce the formation of a complete dorsal axis, including head and notochord structures.

Conclusions:

The goosecoid gene plays a critical role in dorsal axis formation during Xenopus development.
Understanding these molecular mechanisms provides insights into fundamental vertebrate embryonic patterning.