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Research on the biomechanics of development.
Development in organisms begins with a single cell, the fertilized egg, which undergoes division, internal movement, and differentiation into appropriate cell types, ultimately forming complex morphologies. How much information is required to control this intricate developmental process? It has been suggested that it might require all the books in the British Library. On the other hand, the base pairs of DNA in our bodies number 3 billion, only a few times the information content of the Encyclopaedia Britannica (32 volumes). The British Library reportedly holds 17 million volumes, indicating that our bodies require information content 100,000 times that encoded in DNA for completion.
Where does such vast information come from? A crucial key lies in mechanical factors such as the positional relationships between cells and the forces and deformations they experience. We have focused on the relationship between development and mechanics, particularly noting significant changes in shape during development. Changes in shape during development imply corresponding changes in mechanical parameters, such as stress within the embryo or variations in the mechanical properties of embryonic tissues. Our goal is to elucidate these changes in shape and the corresponding changes in the mechanical environment during development.
Where does such vast information come from? A crucial key lies in mechanical factors such as the positional relationships between cells and the forces and deformations they experience. We have focused on the relationship between development and mechanics, particularly noting significant changes in shape during development. Changes in shape during development imply corresponding changes in mechanical parameters, such as stress within the embryo or variations in the mechanical properties of embryonic tissues. Our goal is to elucidate these changes in shape and the corresponding changes in the mechanical environment during development.
Xenopus laevis
