The study connected experiment to computational theory through a collaboration with Sifan Yin, a former postdoctoral fellow in the John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and L. Mahadevan. By simulating biological processes, the researchers revealed how physical forces interact with genetic signals during gut development, providing a more comprehensive understanding of embryonic growth. This interdisciplinary approach highlights that both genetic information and physical mechanics are crucial for precise tissue formation.
I wanted to understand why different regions in the intestine, from the anterior, meaning esophagus, to the posterior, meaning large intestine, end up with different shapes. My research shows how specific gene instructions guide the development of the intestine's varied structures. It’s fascinating to see how these Hox genes operate in both chicken and human embryonic development, showing that these fundamental processes are conserved across species.
Collection
[
|
...
]