Developmental Biology lies at the crossroads of all the Life Sciences, integrating investigations at molecular, cellular, tissue, organismal and evolutionary levels. The 2013 Gordon Conference on Developmental Biology will present the most recent, cutting-edge research in the field. Because progress in Developmental Biology depends on cross-fertilization of ideas from complementary organisms, presentations will include studies in standard invertebrates such as Drosophila and C. elegans, classic vertebrate models including zebrafish, Xenopus and the mouse, as well as plants, non-standard animals and humans. Talks will include new experimental approaches in areas such as imaging and mathematical modeling. The nine sessions of oral presentations will cover classic topics and emerging areas in the field: Organogenesis; Cellular Mechanisms of Early Development; Developmental Genetics; Regulatory Networks of Gene Expression during Development; Evolution of Morphological Diversity: Epithelial Patterning and Morphogenesis; Stem Cell Biology; Patterning and Cell Fate. The sessions will include extended time for discussion. A portion of the session time has been kept uncommitted to choose speakers from abstracts submitted by the participants, particularly junior investigators. Afternoons and late evenings will be reserved for presentation of posters and informal interactions. The relaxed atmosphere and the rural setting of the meeting will encourage stimulating discussions between established and junior investigators in all aspects of the field.