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Cell fate decisions and organization in the mammalian embryo
Development of multicellular organisms involves the complex interplay between cell fate differentiation and organization. Our lab uses the mouse embryo to study the mechanisms by which these activities are coordinated and result in robust and reproducible embryonic development. Specifically, we study two key developmental scenarios:
1. we use the simplicity of the preimplantation embryo to study the mechanisms of symmetry breaking, cell-cell communication and self-organization.
2. we study the female germline to understand how variable germline cyst structures form, which despite their variability can reproducibly give rise to oocytes.
We are strong proponents of “seeing is believing” and develop live imaging and genome engineering techniques that allow us to directly visualize and probe molecular and cellular events. We also collaborate to establish computational image analysis tools and build quantitative models of these developmental processes.
1. we use the simplicity of the preimplantation embryo to study the mechanisms of symmetry breaking, cell-cell communication and self-organization.
2. we study the female germline to understand how variable germline cyst structures form, which despite their variability can reproducibly give rise to oocytes.
We are strong proponents of “seeing is believing” and develop live imaging and genome engineering techniques that allow us to directly visualize and probe molecular and cellular events. We also collaborate to establish computational image analysis tools and build quantitative models of these developmental processes.
