The Hidden Logic of Embryo Self-Organization

Date

Oct 13, 2026

Time

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Speaker

Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz

Affiliation

California Institute of Technology

Series

Physics of Life Seminar

Language

en

Main Topic

Biologie

Host

Adele Doyle

Description

We are pleased to announce a new PoL Seminar by Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz from California Institute of Technology.

When?  Tuesday, 13. October 2026, 3 pm
Where? CRTD, Auditorium left

Abstract:

Stem cell-based embryo models provide a powerful window into the principles of self-organization that shape early development, allowing us not only to reconstruct developmental processes from the bottom up, but also to discover what happens when development takes an alternative path. Using mouse and human systems of increasing complexity, I will explore how biochemical signalling and the mechanobiology of cell-cell interactions work together to coordinate cell fate, tissue organization, symmetry breaking, and body-plan formation. These models reveal remarkable capacities for self-regulation and developmental robustness, while their failures and deviations from natural development can be equally informative, exposing hidden constraints and interactions that are difficult to uncover by studying successful development alone. By comparing the paths taken with those not taken, we can begin to understand how cells communicate, compete, adapt, and collectively select among alternative developmental trajectories. Together, these studies use both the successes and failures of embryo models to uncover the fundamental principles that make mammalian development remarkably reproducible despite its inherent plasticity.

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Everybody is very welcome. Don’t miss a great opportunity to join the seminar!

Please note: This seminar is going to take place in person at the CRTD and will not be streamed via Zoom.

Links

• See this event on the Physics of Life website

Last modified: Oct 2, 2026, 7:35:40 AM