GERM-CELL DEVELOPMENT IN DROSOPHILA

More than 100 years have passed since Weismann first recognized the ro le of germ cells in the continuity of a species. Today, it remains unc lear how a germ cell is initially set aside from somatic cells and how it chooses its unique developmental path. In this review, we address various aspects of germ cell development in Drosophila, such as germ c ell determination, germ cell migration, gonad formation, sex determina tion, and gametogenesis. Many aspects of germ cell development, includ ing the morphology of germ cells, their migratory behavior, as well as the processes of gonad formation and gametogenesis, show striking sim ilarities among organisms. Considering the conservation of factors tha t regulate somatic development, it is likely that some aspects of germ cell development are shared not only on a morphological but also on t he molecular level between Drosophila and other organisms.