Developmental biology studies the process by which organisms grow and develop. Originating in embryology, modern developmental biology studies the genetic control of cell growth, differentiation, and "morphogenesis," which is the process that progressively gives rise to tissues, organs, and anatomy. Model organisms for developmental biology include the round worm Caenorhabditis elegans,[39] the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster,[40] the zebrafish Danio rerio,[41] the mouse Mus musculus,,[42] and the weed Arabidopsis thaliana.[43][44] (A model organism is a species that is extensively studied to understand particular biological phenomena, with the expectation that discoveries made in that organism provide insight into the workings of other.
