![\"DBRG5\"](\"\/devbio\/files\/2010\/06\/DBRG5-300x300.jpg\")
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Amazing progress has been made in our understanding of the mechanisms that are involved in development. \u00a0Besides having obvious implications for birth defects, the study of developmental processes has uncovered many links with human disease. \u00a0In fact, an argument can be made that many diseases that only manifest symptoms during adulthood are the result of defects that occurred during embryogenesis or result from the inappropriate reactivation of developmental pathways. \u00a0Many basic science discoveries that were originally made by investigating development have now become relevant in the context of clinical research and translational science. \u00a0Cancer is perhaps the best example of a disease where mechanisms and genetic pathways that were originally identified as important for normal development, were later shown to be defective in the disease state. \u00a0For example, the establishment of cell polarity is critical during embryogenesis for the determination of cell fate and is accomplished by the asymmetric distribution of macromolecules, including RNAs, proteins, and organelles. \u00a0The failure to maintain cell polarity is a hallmark of advanced tumors and recent evidence suggests that loss of cell polarity plays an important role in the initiation of tumorigenesis. \u00a0Genes such as the Wnt, Hedgehog, and Notch families were originally discovered as mutations causing developmental defects, but are now also known to play significant roles in cancer, and are being investigated as targets for therapeutics.<\/span><\/p>\n