Genetic and epigenetic control of photoreceptor development

Advances in 'omics' technologies have uncovered new insights into photoreceptor development. Dynamic expression of and interaction among transcription factors in post-mitotic photoreceptor precursors guide cone and rod cell fate and maturation, as well as homeostasis. Together with genetic and epigenetic modifications, we are now putting together the pieces of this complex puzzle to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying photoreceptor differentiation. In this review, we discuss our current understanding of developmental pathways that result in the generation of cones and rods from a common pool of multipotent retinal progenitor cells in mouse and human retina. We focus on the key transcription factors and integrate the knowledge from multi-omics and the genome topology datasets to highlight the importance of both genetic and epigenetic landscapes in shaping morphological and functional identity of photoreceptors.