Conveners
Patterns in Biology: Part I
- Marcin Zagorski
Patterns in Biology: Part II
- Katarzyna Dziedzic-Kocurek (M. Smoluchowski Institute of Physics, Jagiellonian University)
The developmental process implies precise but significant changes in the geometry and structure of the embryonic tissues. Recent results show that apparently minor changes in the mechanical properties at the cellular level trigger deep, non-linear transitions in the topological organization of the whole embryonic tissue. In consequence, the tissue changes its material properties abruptly,...
During mouse development, presomitic mesoderm cells synchronize Wnt and Notch oscillations, forming sequential waves that pattern somites. Classical somitogenesis models attribute these synchronizations to global morphogen gradients. However, increasing evidence suggests that they could arise in a self-organizing manner. Here, we introduce the Sevilletor, a novel reaction-diffusion system that...
The phenomenon of cellular heterogeneity - the presence of diverse subpopulations in the cell lines cultures - is the subject of many recent studies. This effect is especially pronounced in the cancer cells populations which, in turn, can influence the outcome of anticancer therapies. It is postulated that heterogeneity is the result of long term evolution of cell types. However, heterogeneity...
The transition from the epithelial to mesenchymal phenotype and its reverse (from mesenchymal to epithelial) are crucial processes necessary for the progression and spread of cancer. We investigate how phenotypic switching at the cancer cell level impacts the behaviour at the tissue level, specifically on the emergence of isolated foci of the invading solid tumour mass leading to a multifocal...
