Drosophila in Developmental Biology—Past, Present and Future

Dear Colleagues,

Following the resounding success of our previous Special Issue titled "Drosophila - A Model System for Developmental Biology", it is with great pleasure that we announce the launch of the second edition of this Special Issue.

Over a century since Thomas Hunt Morgan established Drosophila as a premier organism for biological research, we continue to witness its profound impact across a myriad of fields. Drosophila's versatility in modeling development, aging, disease, homeostasis, stem cell dynamics, neurogenesis, and neurodegeneration underscores its enduring relevance in contemporary scientific inquiry. Alongside Drosophila, the humble nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is as another stalwart in the realm of genetic analysis, offering invaluable insights into fundamental biological processes.

In the wake of advancements such as CRISPR/Cas9 and the burgeoning demand for human-cell-based experiments, invertebrate models face renewed scrutiny and adaptation. Yet, amidst these challenges, they remain indispensable tools for unraveling the complexities of development, aging, and disease.

Building upon the solid groundwork laid by our inaugural edition, the second edition of this Special Issue aims to highlight the latest advancements in developmental biology concerning Drosophila. We invite contributions that delve into a broad spectrum of topics, including, but not limited to:

• Regulation of cell proliferation and cell cycle dynamics;
• Tissue and organ development and programmed cell death;
• Neurobiology and synaptic plasticity;
• Cellular processes such as autophagy, apoptosis, and signal transduction;
• Host–microbe interactions and innate immunity;
• Genetics and epigenetics of aging;
• Drosophila as a model for human diseases;
• Oxidative stress, mitochondrial function, and longevity;
• Genome-wide analyses and high-throughput methodologies;
• Expression and functional roles of small RNAs.

We welcome researchers from various disciplines and backgrounds to contribute their insights and discoveries to this Special Issue. By collectively exploring the endless opportunities presented by Drosophila, we aim to deepen our understanding of biological mechanisms and stimulate future research directions.

We eagerly anticipate your response.

Dr. Nicholas Tolwinski
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at mdpi.longhoe.net by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Developmental Biology is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• drosophila
• development
• aging
• C. elegans
• signaling
• metabolism
• lipidomics
• neurobiology
• stem cells
• model organism

• Drosophila - A Model System for Developmental Biology in Journal of Developmental Biology (16 articles)