Retinal development

The vertebrate retina is a striking example of cellular coordination, where complex molecular signals and precise cellular interactions work together to convert light into neural information. This chapter provides an in-depth exploration of the key stages in retinal development, beginning with optic vesicle morphogenesis and the spatial patterning events that establish distinct retinal domains. We investigate the molecular pathways that orchestrate the specification and regionalization of these domains, guide retinal progenitor cell proliferation and differentiation, and ensure the generation of the full spectrum of retinal cell types, including neurons and glia. Special attention is given to the timing and regulation of neurogenesis, as well as the mechanisms that maintain cell fate during dynamic morphogenetic movements. We also examine how disruptions in these tightly regulated processes contribute to retinal dystrophies and congenital eye defects. Drawing on recent research from model organisms, such as mice and zebrafish, this chapter offers a comprehensive understanding of retinal development and highlights its broad clinical implications.