Femininity in the 21st century.

This review provides an overview of research that explores femininity through the lens of a postfeminist sensibility. I give an account of two developments that have shaped recent research, in terms of 1) the proliferation of digital, social and self-representational media, which has created a new culture of emotion and feeling, and 2) the visibility and popularity of particular forms of 'popular' digital feminist activism. I show how these developments change the contours of a postfeminist sensibility, where its characteristics are deepened or adapted to fit new contexts. I conclude with suggestions on future directions for research on femininity and a postfeminist sensibility, especially in relation to emerging digital technologies and dramatically different political contexts.

Characterization of harpy/Rca1/emi1 mutants: patterning in the absence of cell division.

We have characterized mutations in the early arrest gene, harpy (hrp), and show that they introduce premature stops in the coding region of early mitotic inhibitor1 (Rca1/emi1). In harpy mutants, cells stop dividing during early gastrulation. Lineage analysis confirms that there is little change in cell number after approximately cycle-14. Gross patterning occurs relatively normally, and many organ primordia are produced on time but with smaller numbers of cells. Despite the lack of cell division, some organ systems continue to increase in cell number, suggesting recruitment from surrounding areas. Analysis of bromodeoxyuridine incorporation shows that endoreduplication continues in many cells well past the first day of development, but cells cease endoreduplication once they begin to differentiate and express cell-type markers. Despite relatively normal gross patterning, harpy mutants show several defects in morphogenesis, cell migration and differentiation resulting directly or indirectly from the arrest of cell division.