Embryonic induction articles from across Nature Portfolio

Mechanical forces act at the core of bird embryonic self-organization, shaping both tissues and gene expression to robustly yet plastically canalize early development.

Mitochondria are maternally inherited, but the mechanisms underlying paternal mitochondrial elimination remain unclear. Here, the authors show that Drosophila eggs rapidly degrade paternal mitochondria after fertilization by triggering an innate immunity pathway commonly employed against invading microbes.

A protocol for the generation of induced blastoids, an in vitro integrated model of the human blastocyst derived via somatic reprogramming. This model overcomes restrictions associated with the use of human blastocysts in embryology research.

Changes in epiblast morphology, cell polarity, and correlating gene expression patterns indicate continuous developmental progression during diapause in the roe deer.

The molecular program of human germline commitment remains largely unknown. A new study delineates the multifaceted functions of DMRT1 in human germline development, particularly in the transition from early to late primordial germ cells.

Hox genes are known to regulate head-tail axis patterning but their molecular role in animals diverged from the bilaterian lineage is unclear. Here, Fabian Rentzsch and Thomas W. Holstein comment on a paper by Mark Martindale and colleagues on the functional role of two Hox genes in axial patterning of the sea anemone.

Piwi-interacting RNAs can regulate embryonic patterning by controlling Nanos mRNA decay.