Cardiogenesis, the process of heart development, is a complex sequence of events that transforms a cluster of undifferentiated cells into a complex, functional organ capable of pumping blood throughout the body. It involves multiple stages, each driven by precise molecular signalling and gene regulation mechanisms. Cardiogenesis begins in early embryonic development with the formation of the heart tube. This process involves the migration and coalescence of two bilateral heart fields in the developing embryo. These heart fields originate from mesodermal cells and contribute to the formation of the heart primordia. As these fields come together, they create the primitive linear heart tube, which eventually gives rise to the four chambers of the heart. The linear heart tube then undergoes a process of looping and septation. The heart tube folds and twists to form the looping heart, with distinct atrial and ventricular regions. As the heart tube continues to develop, septa form to separate the atria from the ventricles and the left and right sides of the heart. During later stages, valves within the heart develop from specialized regions of the endocardial cushion tissue. These valves ensure unidirectional blood flow through the heart chambers. Proper valve development involves a balance of cellular proliferation, differentiation, and extracellular matrix formation. Key transcription factors play critical roles in specifying cells to first become cardiac progenitors. Homeobox genes, such as NKX2.5 and TBX5, are critical in initiating cardiac lineage commitment. As the heart tube forms, cardiac progenitors differentiate into cardiomyocytes. The Mesp and GATA transcription factors are among those responsible for guiding cells along the cardiomyocyte lineage, with BMP and Wnt signalling pathways also contributing to cardiomyocyte differentiation. Other transcription factors, including Pitx2, help establish the regional identities of the atria and ventricles. Formation of the cardiac conduction system, responsible for coordinating heart contractions, involves specialized cells expressing genes such as HCN4 and Cx40. Transforming Growth Factor-beta (TGF-β) signalling and the transcription factor Sox9 are essential for endocardial cushion formation and for the development of heart valves, with interactions between endocardial and myocardial cells contributing to valve morphogenesis. Finally, epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation and histone modifications, play a role in shaping gene expression patterns during cardiogenesis. For example, DNA methylation changes at cardiac-specific genes, such as myosin heavy chain genes (MYH6 and MYH7), are essential for cardiomyocyte maturation, whilst histone methylation, such as H3K4me3 (associated with active gene transcription) and H3K27me3 (associated with gene repression), is dynamically regulated during heart development to control gene expression. Disruptions in the molecular pathways involved in cardiogenesis can lead to congenital heart defects, the most common type of birth defects. For example, Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) is a congenital heart defect characterized by a hole in the septum that separates the two upper chambers of the heart (atria), whilst Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) is a hole in the septum that separates the two lower chambers of the heart (ventricles) resulting from incomplete fusion of the ventricular septum during heart development. We provide a comprehensive product range of research tools for investigating cardiogenesis, including CD34 antibodies, Smad4 antibodies, STAT3 antibodies, STAT3 ELISA Kits, and mTOR ELISA Kits. Explore our full cardiogenesis product range below and discover more, for less. Alternatively, you can explore our Transcription Factors & Regulators, Stem Cells, and Myocardial Regeneration product ranges.