IBEC Seminar: Takashi Hiiragi

Multicellular coordination in context

Takashi Hiiragi, Hubrecht Institute, The Netherlands

A defining feature of living systems is the capacity to break symmetry and generate well-defined forms and patterns through self-organisation. Our group aims to understand the design principle of multicellular living systems using early mouse embryos as a model system. We developed an experimental framework that integrates biology, physics and mathematics, to understand how molecular, cellular and physical signals are dynamically coupled across the scales for self-organisation. I will discuss our ongoing work investigating the coordination of developmental programmes in space and time.

Takashi Hiiragi is group leader at the Hubrecht Institute.  The Hiiragi group aims to understand what defines multi-cellular living systems. In particular, the group studies the design principle of tissue self-organization, using early mammalian embryos as a model system. To this end, they developed an experimental framework that integrates biology, physics and mathematics. Their recent studies led to a model in which feedback between cell fate, polarity, and cell and tissue mechanics underlies multi-cellular self-organization. The group adopts a wide variety of experimental strategies including embryology, genetics, advanced microscopy, biophysics, engineering and theoretical modelling, in order to address fundamental questions in cell and developmental biology.

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