Developmental Biology taps from various areas of biology (including biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, genomics, molecular biology, and evolutionary biology), as well as from physics and mathematics, to explain how diverse cell types are generated and organized to generate functioning structures. Cellular diversification and self organization will be the two main themes of this conference. We will approach these themes in a variety of model organisms and cultured tissues. Thus we will explore how individual cell behaviors are controlled and how they contribute to tissue pattern and shape, under normal physiology, repair and regeneration. In light of the increased relevance of Developmental Biology to the generation of tissues and cells for therapeutic purposes, we have included a session on "Developmental Biology in Industry".