Growth factor of the TGF-beta superfamily that plays essential roles in many developmental processes, including cardiogenesis, neurogenesis, and osteogenesis (PubMed:18436533, PubMed:24362451, PubMed:31019025). Induces cartilage and bone formation (PubMed:3201241). Initiates the canonical BMP signaling cascade by associating with type I receptor BMPR1A and type II receptor BMPR2 (PubMed:15064755, PubMed:17295905, PubMed:18436533). Once all three components are bound together in a complex at the cell surface, BMPR2 phosphorylates and activates BMPR1A (PubMed:7791754). In turn, BMPR1A propagates signal by phosphorylating SMAD1/5/8 that travel to the nucleus and act as activators and repressors of transcription of target genes. Also acts to promote expression of HAMP, via the interaction with its receptor BMPR1A/ALK3 (PubMed:31800957). Can also signal through non-canonical pathways such as ERK/MAP kinase signaling cascade that regulates osteoblast differentiation (PubMed:16771708, PubMed:20851880). Also stimulates the differentiation of myoblasts into osteoblasts via the EIF2AK3-EIF2A-ATF4 pathway by stimulating EIF2A phosphorylation which leads to increased expression of ATF4 which plays a central role in osteoblast differentiation (PubMed:24362451). Acts as a positive regulator of odontoblast differentiation during mesenchymal tooth germ formation, expression is repressed during the bell stage by MSX1-mediated inhibition of CTNNB1 signaling (By similarity). {ECO:0000250|UniProtKB:P21274, ECO:0000269|PubMed:15064755, ECO:0000269|PubMed:17295905, ECO:0000269|PubMed:18436533, ECO:0000269|PubMed:20851880, ECO:0000269|PubMed:24362451, ECO:0000269|PubMed:31019025, ECO:0000269|PubMed:31800957, ECO:0000269|PubMed:3201241, ECO:0000269|PubMed:7791754}. This is the function of BMP2 (bone morphogenetic protein 2, ENSG00000125845).