FBS Colloquia No.268Laboratory for Developmental Morphogeometry, RIKEN BDR

Toward the elucidation of laws of organ morphogenesis

The molecular biology approach has succeeded in elucidating a set of genes essential for organ morphogenesis. On the other hand, the process of organ morphogenesis is a physical process, and a different approach is needed to understand its dynamics. Quantitative analysis of tissue deformation dynamics is an important starting point for clarifying the physical process. Once the tissue deformation maps are clarified, for example, the similarities and differences in morphogenetic processes between homologous organs with different sizes/shapes can be discussed quantitatively by comparing the spatiotemporal patterns of local deformation characteristics. Furthermore, by investigating the relationship between deformation dynamics and the stress field in tissues, it will be possible to understand the functional relationship (i.e., constitutive laws) between them. In this seminar, I will introduce the results of quantitative and mathematical analyses of tissue and cell dynamics in the (early) developmental processes of the forebrain, heart, and limbs, and discuss common dynamics and rules among species and organs.