Physiological inputs regulate species-specific anatomy during embryogenesis and regeneration.

Area of Science:

• Evolutionary developmental biology
• Regenerative medicine
• Synthetic bioengineering

Background:

• Identifying instructive information for species-specific anatomical patterns is a major challenge.
• Understanding pattern formation is vital for regenerative medicine and synthetic bioengineering.
• A cellular communication system regulating pattern in embryogenesis and regeneration has been uncovered.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent findings on cellular communication networks in pattern formation.
• To discuss hypotheses on non-genomic instructive information controlling biological form.

Main Methods:

• Review of experimental studies on cellular communication during embryogenesis and regeneration.
• Analysis of how somatic tissues form networks using ion channels and neurotransmitter mechanisms.
• Examination of experimental manipulations of these circuits in model organisms.

Main Results:

• Somatic tissues utilize neural communication mechanisms for pattern regulation.
• Experimental manipulation of these circuits can override genomic default patterning.
• Altered head shapes resembling other species were observed in planaria and Xenopus.

Conclusions:

• Non-genomic systems provide instructive information for biological pattern and form.
• The ability to alter anatomy suggests new approaches to controlling biological development.
• This research bridges evolutionary developmental biology with bioengineering applications.