Sensory cells often adopt specific morphologies that aid in the detection of external stimuli. Merkel cells encode gentle touch stimuli in vertebrate skin and adopt a reproducible shape characterized by spiky, actin-rich microvilli that emanate from the cell surface. The mechanism by which Merkel cells acquire this stereotyped morphology from keratinocyte progenitors is unknown. Here, we establish that dendritic Merkel cells (dMCs) express atonal homolog 1a (atoh1a), extend dynamic filopodial processes, and arise in transient waves during zebrafish skin development and regeneration.

This study compares the impacts on biochemistry student learning for three evidence-based pedagogies—worked examples plus practice, productive failure, and guided inquiry—that differ in the nature and timing of guidance.

This qualitative study of 52 first-year life science students’ metacognition and self-efficacy in action shows that students monitor in a myriad of ways and use self-coaching to overcome the discomfort associated with being metacognitive while solving challenging biochemistry problems.

When students collaborate they can stimulate metacognition in one another, which can lead to improved learning. Life science students were recorded during small-group problem-solving sessions. Through discourse analysis of their conversations, metacognitive statements and questions associated with high-quality reasoning were uncovered.