title: The molecular genetics of embryonic pattern formation in Drosophila.
abstract: Analysis of the genes that control the early events of Drosophila embryogenesis is providing details of the molecular processes underlying the positional specification of cells. There are two distinct phases: the first precedes the cellularization of the blastoderm embryo and is associated with a cascade of interactions between transcriptional regulators; the second occurs after cellularization and depends on communication between cells. These processes may be conserved in a wide range of invertebrates and vertebrates.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004330:Drosophila / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics*; D004627:Embryonic Induction; D005801:Genes, Homeobox; D009420:Nervous System / Q000196:embryology