Control of fate specification within the dorsal head of Drosophila melanogaster

During development, unique combinations of transcription factors and signaling pathways carve the nascent eye-antennal disc of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster into several territories that will eventually develop into the compound eye, ocelli, head epidermis, bristles, antenna and maxillary palpus of the adult head. Juxtaposed patterns of Hedgehog (Hh) and Decapentaplegic (Dpp) initiate compound eye development, while reciprocal domains of Dpp and Wingless (Wg) induce formation of the...