Species-specific WNT requirements shape somite morphogenesis in mammalian embryo models

Human and pig stem cell–derived embryo models show species-specific somitogenesis under identical induction, with WNT stimulation restoring somite formation in pig but not ordered segmentation.

• Why it matters: Cross-species comparisons are needed to explain how conserved developmental programs produce different tissue organization during axis segmentation.
• What they did: Human, pig, sheep, and cow pluripotent stem cell embryo models were induced under matched conditions, then WNT signalling strength and extracellular matrix embedding time were varied and progenitor dynamics were compared.
• The result: Each species required a different WNT stimulation level and matrix embedding time for somite formation; human models retained a posterior mesoderm-producing domain, while pig models depleted it rapidly, coinciding with simultaneous somite formation.

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