Physical Mechanics of Morphogenesis, or, Building With Goo

Lance Davidson, University of Pittsburgh

Cells and tissues move great distances as the form of the embryo is sculpted and then again when organs take shape within the body. Large scale movements of cells and tissues during embryo development involve force production leading to mechanical deformation. Our lab combines classical embryology and microsurgery, cell and molecular biology, biophysical, and bioengineering approaches to understand how tissues are sculpted during morphogenesis in vertebrate embryos.