Projektnummer

0056848

Zusammenfassung

Biologists increasingly acknowledge the importance of cell mechanics in embryonic development. However, cell mechanics remain seen as a result of gene expression rather than as a guiding cue for cell differentiation. Here the opposite view is taken and the hypothesis is tested that cell mechanics may control the symmetry breaking of the mouse embryo. Unlike other species, the mammalian embryo is initially symmetric with all blastomeres having equivalent developmental potency until the 8-cell stage. This symmetry is broken when cells differentiate into trophectoderm (TE) cells or cells ...