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Can you change a chicken into a frog, a fish or a chameleon?

A team of researchers developed a theoretical framework that can reproduce and predict the patterns associated with gastrulation in a chicken embryo. Small changes in cell parameters and behavior can have a dramatic impact on the resulting gastrulation patterns, which are seen in other species such as frogs, fish, and chameleons.

A mathematical model connects the evolution of chickens, fish and frogs

Researchers developed a mathematical model that accurately predicts gastrulation flows in chick embryos, which are similar to human embryos. The model then predicted cellular flows observed in frog and fish embryos, suggesting common physical principles behind multicellular self-organization across vertebrate species.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalScience Advances·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateDec 6, 2023

A key function for tight junctions in embryo models

A study by Gladstone Institutes researchers found that tight junctions between cells may play a critical role in gastrulation in human embryos. By suppressing tight junction formation, the team was able to create primordial germ cell-like cells, which are stem cells resembling human precursors of sperm and egg cells.

SourceGladstone Institutes·JournalDevelopmental Cell·DateJul 17, 2023

Scientists' use of hydrogel materials leads to stem cells developing like human embryos

Researchers at UNSW Sydney have successfully induced a gastrulation-like event in human pluripotent stem cells, mimicking the early stages of embryonic development. This breakthrough could lead to new approaches for studying human development and creating personalized body tissue or organs using hydrogel materials.

SourceUniversity of New South Wales·JournalAdvanced Science·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 15, 2022

‘Lefty’ tightens control of embryonic development

Researchers at Rice University have discovered that the Lefty protein plays a crucial role in regulating Nodal signaling during embryonic development. By visualizing the interaction between Nodal and Lefty, they found that cells relay the signal to produce new Nodals, triggering a wave of differentiation. This study provides new insigh...

SourceRice University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 25, 2022

Gastrulation research reveals novel details about embryonic development

Researchers from Helmholtz Zentrum München have discovered a novel mechanism driving the formation of the endoderm germ layer during gastrulation. This finding has significant implications for understanding congenital diseases and potential targets for therapeutic intervention in cancer.