Centromeres congregate into a large cluster called the chromocenter during Drosophila oogenesis. Two recent studies now define a function and a genetic basis for this remarkable structure.

What mechanisms coordinate the sequential pattern of gene expression during development of specialized cells? A small RNA-based mechanism is proposed to repress expression of genes during oogenesis.

The orthogonal axes of Drosophila are established during oogenesis through a hierarchical series of symmetry-breaking steps, most of which can be traced back to asymmetries inherent in the architecture of the ovary. Oogenesis begins with the formation of a germline cyst of 16 cells connected by ring canals. Two of these 16 cells have four ring canals, whereas the others have fewer. The first sy...