Genes are the control panel for an embryo morphing from a ball of cells into organs, muscles, and limbs, but genetics isn't all that's involved. There's also physics: the shaping of tissues by flows and forces from cell activity and growth.
- By ANNE J. MANNING
Two recent studies led by Harvard University researchers shed light on the gene-mediated geometries and forces within embryonic development that give rise to different sections and shapes of the gut, including the large and small intestines.
The findings help illuminate the murky connections between genetic signals and the physical formation of the early gut. They could also help researchers better understand how certain diseases of the gastrointestinal tract arise, which could in turn inform the development of more effective treatments.
