Developmental Biology

Developmental biology is the branch of biology that deals with the study of the process by which animals and plants grow and develop. It involves the thorough studies of genetic control of cell growth, differentiation and "morphogenesis," which is the process that gives rise to tissues, organs and anatomy. Developmental biology includes both animal biology as well as plant biology. In the late 20th century, the discipline has largely transformed into evolutionary developmental biology. The main processes involved in the embryonic development of animals are: regional specification, morphogenesis, cell differentiation, growth, and the overall control of timing explored in evolutionary developmental biology. The development of plants involves similar processes to that of animals. However plant cells are mostly immotile so morphogenesis is achieved by differential growth, without cell movements. Also, the inductive signals and the genes involved are different from those that control animal development.