Spemann-Mangold organizer

The Spemann-Mangold organizer is a group of cells in developing embryos that guides the formation of the body plan. Discovered in the 1920s, these cells instruct neighboring tissues on how to develop into different structures, such as the head or tail. Essentially, they act as a signaling center, releasing molecules that direct cell growth and differentiation, ensuring the proper development of organs and body parts. Their discovery was key to understanding how complex organisms form from simple beginnings.