title: Measuring time during early embryonic development.
abstract: In most metazoans, embryonic development is orchestrated by a precise series of cellular behaviors. Understanding how such events are regulated to achieve a stereotypical temporal progression is a fundamental problem in developmental biology. In this review, we argue that studying the regulation of the cell cycle in early embryonic development will reveal novel principles of how embryos accurately measure time. We will discuss the strategies that have emerged from studying early development of Drosophila embryos. By comparing the development of flies to that of other metazoans, we will highlight both conserved and alternative mechanisms to generate precision during embryonic development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham NC, United States.
authors.forename: Patrick L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Ferree
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham NC, United States.
authors.forename: Victoria E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Deneke
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham NC, United States. Electronic address: stefano.ditalia@duke.edu.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Di Talia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002453:Cell Cycle; D047108:Embryonic Development; D054262:Gastrulation; D008954:Models, Biological; D013997:Time Factors; D015053:Zygote / Q000166:cytology
keywords: Cell cycle; Embryonic development; Quantitative biology; Signaling; Timing; Transcription