Cell movement is a fascinating feature of animal development. Genetic
approaches have recently led to the identification of regulatory prote
ins required for specific cell migrations in development of the mouse,
nematode and fruitfly. Here, I focus on two model systems for genetic
studies of cell migration during Drosophila development: migration of
follicle cells in the ovary and migration of tracheal cells in the em
bryo. Mutations that affect these migrations have allowed the identifi
cation of transcription factors and an FGF receptor homolog as importa
nt regulators of cell migration. Signaling through receptor tyrosine k
inases may be a general mechanism for the regulation of cell movement
in development and in metastasis.