title: Synthetic strategies for studying embryonic development.
abstract: Developmental biology has evolved from a descriptive science to one based on genetic principles and molecular mechanisms. Although molecular biology and genetic technologies have been the primary drivers of this transformation, synthetic strategies have been increasingly utilized to interrogate the mechanisms of embryonic patterning with spatial and temporal precision. In this review, we survey how chemical tools and engineered proteins have been used to perturb developmental processes at the DNA, RNA, protein, and cellular levels. We discuss the design principles, experimental capabilities, and limitations of each method, as well as future challenges for the chemical and developmental biology communities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
authors.forename: Xiaohu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ouyang
authors.forename: James K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002477:Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002621:Chemistry / Q000379:methods*; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D015202:Protein Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D054852:Small Molecule Libraries / Q000494:pharmacology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D054852:Small Molecule Libraries