How is the absolute timing of an event controlled during embryogenesis?

Tissue Tectonics and the Multi-Scale Regulation of Developmental Timing

In this review, the Steventon lab examines existing literature in developmental biology that explores how events are timed in development. “This literature encompasses mechanisms for timing at a variety of different scales, including the single cell, cell population, multi-tissue and whole organism levels”, said Lara Busby first author of the review. The authors propose that tissue tectonics - here defined as the relative displacement of signalling and responding tissues - may be an important mechanism for integration of timing across these different length scales. Finally, using numerous examples, the authors argue that signalling events are important points where timing can be integrated across diverse length scales. 

Reference:   Busby L, Steventon B.  Tissue Tectonics and the Multi-Scale Regulation of Developmental Timing. Preprints (2020), 2020060168 (doi: 10.20944/preprints202006.0168.v1).