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SUMMARY:Cell shape\, cell division and the development of early embyos - N
 icolas Minc
DTSTART:20210125T143000Z
DTEND:20210125T153000Z
UID:TALK154714@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:98764
DESCRIPTION:Life for all animals starts with the fertilization of the egg\
 , followed by the centration of the sperm nucleus and a 3D-choreography of
  reductive cell divisions called cleavage patterns. These invariant morpho
 genetic processes rely on the precise motion\, positioning and orientation
  of large microtubule (MT) asters which grow out from centrosomes around n
 uclei and spindles. Using a combination of mathematical models\, in situ f
 orce measurement and quantitative imaging in large marine embryos\, we dem
 onstrate that the geometry of eggs and blastomeres may largely influence t
 hese early morphogenetic events. Our data support that dynein-dependent MT
  cytoplasmic pulling forces that scale to MT length may function as a gene
 ral design to convert cell shape into net aster force\, torques and conseq
 uent motion\, position and orientation. This design allows to account for 
 the centration of sperm nuclei at fertilization\, competition between symm
 etric and asymmetric divisions\, as well as the geometry of cleavage patte
 rns in multiple invertebrate and vertebrate species. These studies unravel
  the default self-organization rules governing division positioning and ea
 rly embryogenesis.
LOCATION:Online
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