Multi-scale modeling of gene regulation of morphogenesis

Abstract

In this paper we demonstrate a spatio-temporal gene regulatory network for early gastrulation in the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis. We measure gene expression during early gastrulation using a gene expression quantification tool. We measure gene expression during early gastrulation when the embryo is more or less radial symmetrical and where there is only one body axis (the aboral - oral body axis in the case of Nematostella), allowing us, to use a one-dimensional model. The shape changes are induced by mechanical forces that are defined as rules or explicitly coupled to genetic regulation. The morphological evolution of the Nematostella embryo during gastrulation is described by a cell-based model, which can potentially be coupled with the one-dimensional gene regulatory network. © 2012 Springer-Verlag.