This review discusses the multifunctional role of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) in vertebrate development. BMPs, a large family of signaling molecules, are involved in various biological processes such as cell proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, and morphogenesis. They are expressed in almost all organs and tissues, including the nervous system, somites, lung, kidney, skin, and gonads. The review focuses on recent studies related to BMP function in vertebrates, particularly those involving mutations of BMP-encoding genes in mice. It covers the structure of BMPs, their processing and binding proteins, homodimers and heterodimers, and their roles in embryonic development, including gastrulation, mesoderm formation, neural patterning, somite patterning, skeletal development, limb patterning, and organogenesis. The review also highlights the importance of BMPs in regulating cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis, as well as their interactions with other signaling molecules.This review discusses the multifunctional role of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) in vertebrate development. BMPs, a large family of signaling molecules, are involved in various biological processes such as cell proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, and morphogenesis. They are expressed in almost all organs and tissues, including the nervous system, somites, lung, kidney, skin, and gonads. The review focuses on recent studies related to BMP function in vertebrates, particularly those involving mutations of BMP-encoding genes in mice. It covers the structure of BMPs, their processing and binding proteins, homodimers and heterodimers, and their roles in embryonic development, including gastrulation, mesoderm formation, neural patterning, somite patterning, skeletal development, limb patterning, and organogenesis. The review also highlights the importance of BMPs in regulating cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis, as well as their interactions with other signaling molecules.