Xenopus and Drosophila, two of the best-studied models for embryonic cell cycle regulation, are hardly representative of all metazoan.
A more likely explanation for the performance gap between predictive models for embryonic stem versus differentiated cells is the increasing heterogeneity in regulatory mechanisms following differentiation.
The models for embryonic and larval traits were subsequently run with and without egg size (embryonic survival) or initial size (larval traits) as a covariate to control for potential contribution of egg size mediated maternal effects on offspring performance.
We use the fruit fly, one of the classic model systems for embryonic development, together with a combination of new technologies, quantitative experiments, and statistical mechanics in order to provide new insights about cellular decision making during development.
N.vectensis is extensively investigated as model organism for embryonic development [23], [24] and recent sequencing of its genome revealed a surprisingly high similarity to the human genome [25].
Using zebrafish as a small model organism for embryonic development, we recently identified an unprecedented function of Rer1p and γ-secretase in the control of ciliary length and function in vivo[ 40].
Nematostella vectensis is a burrowing, estuarine sea anemone that has been an important model system for embryonic development in Cnidaria, and was the first cnidarian to have a draft genome sequence available [ 1].
Similar patterns of spike activity were observed in neural tube stages in vivo[ 2, 7] and during neuronal differentiation of embryonal carcinoma (CSC, a model for pluripotent embryonic stem cells) and adult bone marrow mesenchymal (hMSC) stem cells [ 8, 9].
Based on these results, we propose a model for mammalian embryonic haematopoietic development that requires BMP signalling at an early stage for maintenance of multipotent cells in the AGM.
EB formation from mESCs has been proposed as a model for early embryonic development in terms of differentiation capacity, morphological changes, and inductive signaling events that drive these changes [ 4, 5].
