Conveners
Interdisciplinary approaches in developmental biology: Part A
- Ruth Baker (University of Oxford)
- Alexander Fletcher ()
Interdisciplinary approaches in developmental biology: Part B
- Alexander Fletcher ()
- Ruth Baker (University of Oxford)
Description
The development of an embryo, from a single cell to the breathtaking range of organisms found in nature, is a fascinating process. Moreover, the study of embryonic development promises to shed light on a wide range of developmental defects, inform strategies for the treatment of disease, and provide guidance for tissue regeneration and engineering. Developmental biology has witnessed a renaissance in recent years, due largely to the advent of significant new imaging techniques and molecular biology technologies. To exploit the volumes of multiplex quantitative data that are now being collected, we need to design quantitative hypotheses through mathematical models, and use these models to make quantitative predictions that can be tested and validated experimentally.
The aim of this Developmental Biology Subgroup activity is to bring together researchers in the field who will showcase exemplar interdisciplinary, quantitative studies in developmental biology. This will raise the profile of quantitative approaches to development within the SMB, encourage new members to join the Subgroup and work in the area, and provide a platform for new interactions between SMB members working in the area.
Retinal vasculature is essential for adequate oxygen supply to the inner layers of the retina, the light sensitive tissue in the eye. In embryonic development, formation of the retinal vasculature via angiogenesis is critically dependent on prior establishment of a mesh of astrocytes, which are a type of brain glial cell. Astrocytes emerge from the optic nerve head and then migrate over the...
Understanding how 3D organ morphology is achieved during development is one of the ultimate goals in biology. This is important not only for pure scientific interests but also for potential medical applications for controlling and designing functional organs. To achieve these goals, it is essential to clarify the quantitative relationships between microscopic molecular/cellular activities and...
Insects use two main modes of segment determination during development: the ancestral short-germband mode (eg. Gryllus bimaculatus) where new segments are added sequentially, and the more derived long-germband mode (eg. Drosophila melanogaster), where all segments are determined simultaneously. In dipteran insects (flies, midges and mosquitoes), which use the long-germband mode of...
Phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-trisphosphate (PtdInsP3) is known to propagate as waves on the plasma membrane and is related to the membrane protrusive activities in Dictyostelium and mammalian cells. While there have been a few attempts to study their three dimensional dynamics, most of these studies focused on the dynamics extracted in one dimensional sections along the membrane in a single...
The collective migration of cells during embryogenesis is key to the development of vertebrates, and improper migration can lead to severe developmental diseases and deformities. As a simple model for such cell migration we study the particle based Vicsek model in an open channel geometry where cells continuously enter and leave the domain. This results in two distinct types of motion – one...
In the course of animal development, the shape of macroscopic tissues emerges from collective cell dynamics. The challenge faced by researchers in the field is to understand the mechanism by which morphogenetic processes of each individual cell (i.e., when, where, and how much individual cells grow, divide, move, and die) collectively lead to the development of a large tissue with its correct...