Berlin 2024 – scientific programme

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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 5: Tissue Mechanics I

BP 5.6: Invited Talk

Monday, March 18, 2024, 16:30–17:00, H 0110

Sculpting embryos through fluid-to-solid phase transitions — •Otger Campas — Physics of Life Excellence Cluster, TU Dresden, Germany

During embryonic development, cells self-organize to build functional structures, like tissues and organs, and progressively shape the organism. While many key molecular players that orchestrate embryonic development are known, the physical mechanisms underlying embryonic morphogenesis remain unclear. Performing direct measurements of the tissue physical state in situ and in vivo using microdroplet techniques, I will show that embryonic tissues undergo fluid-to-solid (rigidity) transitions that are controlled in space and time to guide morphogenesis. First, I will discuss body axis elongation in vertebrates and show that posterior tissues are fluid-like at their elongating end and become solid-like as they mature anteriorly through a jamming transition of the cell collective. Beyond axis elongation, I will discuss a new nuclear jamming transition that controls tissue architecture during vertebrate eye and brain organogenesis.

Keywords: morphogenesis; phase transitions; jamming; mechanobiology