An identical DNA base pair change has occurred in divergent sticklebacks to alter the expression of a major developmental gene controlling armor plates, thus providing a molecular link between particular enhancer changes, cell signaling, and repeated skeletal evolution in natural populations.

Submucosal glands are critical for two key respiratory host defenses, bactericidal activity and mucociliary transport, in an animal model that has lungs like humans.

Molecular, cellular, and developmental characterization of zebrafish Merkel cells establishes a new model for the study of mechanosensory epidermal cells.

Single-cell transcriptomics enables functional dissection of signaling interactions that drive morphogenesis of complex organ systems.

Zebrafish scales depend on interactions among Wnt, Ectodysplasin and Hedgehog signaling pathways similar to those underlying feathers, teeth and hair follicles, suggesting a deep homology of ectodermal appendages in vertebrates.

Live imaging, transcriptional profiling and mouse models demonstrated that the mesenchyme controls the growth pace but not the mode of branching of the mammary epithelium and unveiled a unique function for Igf1/Igfr1 in embryonic development mammary gland.

The hair follicle dermal condensate is populated via migration, and the cells exhibit early changes in cell shape and cell cycle status; Fgf20 primes these cellular and molecular events.