A Path to Pattern.

摘要: The field of developmental biology is not the same one that I entered in 1975. At time, it seemed most its practitioners used various kinds microscopes to watch animals as they matured, described morphological details with impressive temporal and spatial resolution, recorded responses physical genetic insults. number genes whose mutant phenotypes offered insights into mechanisms was small, expression functionalities these were unknown, because extent evolutionary conservation between different or even organs animal also vocabularies describe development unique each system. distance descriptors inferred molecular vast; a descriptive discipline. Today genome sequences are available for biologists study, saturation screens possible, transgenesis offers powerful ways modify genomes, proteins direct implement processes can be imaged real time. These advances have transformed merges cell biology, physiology, neurobiology, immunology, our understanding development. In this essay, offer my perspectives sense some principles emerged.