Learning a conserved mechanism for early neuroectoderm morphogenesis

M. Lefebvre*, J. Colen*, N. Claussen*, F. Brauns, M. Raich, N.P. Mitchell, M. Fruchart, V. Vitelli, and S. Streichan

In Revision at Developmental Cell, 2023

Morphogenesis is how an organism gets its shape. In flies, this is regulated by genes which are tightly coupled to force-generating proteins throughout the embryo. We used machine learning to analyze movies of developing Drosophila embryos and discover equations governing the dynamics of morphogenesis. Using this model, we identified a genetic signaling pathway which sets the stage for embryo development.

Collaboration with Michel Fruchart (ESPCI Gulliver), Vincenzo Vitelli (UChicago), and Streichan Lab (UCSB)

Preprint