idw – Informationsdienst Wissenschaft
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
idw - Informationsdienst
Wissenschaft
11/21/2025 - 11/21/2025 | Berlin
Creating to understand – sculpting with stem cells to understand how embryos build themselves
This talk focuses on how patterning and morphogenesis of the mammalian embryo can be reproduced in vitro using pluripotent stem cell-derived embryo models. By precisely modulating these systems, we can uncover the core mechanisms and design principles underlying regulative development.
Embryonic development requires multi-scale coordination of tissue morphogenesis, cellular behaviours, and gene expression to ensure highly reproducible differentiation outcome at the systems level. A deep understanding of the feedbacks that govern such robustness requires the study of the processes that pattern and shape the embryo in live specimens, in toto, across spatial and temporal scales. In mammalian embryogenesis, this remains a major challenge as the embryo develops in utero, precluding easy accessibility. These impediments can be overcome by coaxing pluripotent stem cells to form three-dimensional embryo models in vitro. Gastruloids are embryo models that break symmetry, elongate and self-organise the major body axes, but lack the stereotypical architecture of the embryo. We have shown that the latter can be unlocked by precisely timed addition of an extracellular matrix, resulting in trunk-like structures (TLS) that molecularly and morphologically resemble the core part of the embryonic trunk. In contrast to its in vivo counterpart, these embryo models are easy to access, track, manipulate and scale. I will explain how we leverage these unique properties to identify minimal sets of inputs necessary to pattern and shape the mammalian embryo through controlled modulations of the system. Moreover, I will discuss novel frameworks we
have developed that allow us to connect transcriptional, cellular and morpho-states in space and time, and how these help us to uncover the design principles of regulative development during critical windows of mammalian embryo morphogenesis.
Information on participating / attending:
The event will be held online via Webex.
The meeting link will be provided a few days prior to the event.
Registration required.
Date:
11/21/2025 10:00 - 11/21/2025 12:00
Registration deadline:
11/20/2025
Event venue:
Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung
ONLINE
10589 Berlin
Berlin
Germany
Target group:
Scientists and scholars, all interested persons
Email address:
Relevance:
international
Subject areas:
Medicine, Philosophy / ethics, Zoology / agricultural and forest sciences
Types of events:
Seminar / workshop / discussion
Entry:
11/05/2025
Sender/author:
Dr. Suzan Fiack
Department:
Presse- und Öffentlichkeitsarbeit
Event is free:
yes
Language of the text:
English
URL of this event: http://idw-online.de/en/event80424
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