Genetic basis for the evolution of fly gastrulation

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Steffen Lemke
• Subject Area: Evolutionary Cell and Developmental Biology (Zoology)
• Term: from 2011 to 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 192826199

Morphological differences between two species are shaped by diverging developmental trajectories. To assess the cell-mechanical and molecular principles contributing to the evolution of form, I propose to study gastrulation as a genetically tractable model of (transient) morphogenesis. I will compare gastrulation in distantly related flies (Diptera) at the cellular and genetic level to identify common genetic and cell biological principles of morphological evolution. Specifically, I will focus on the molecular mechanisms underlying two morphogenetic events during fly gastrulation, i.e., mesoderm internalization and the separation of epithelia during extraembryonic development. To extend the range of comparable morphogenetic movements to internal or unknown differences, I propose to reconstruct gastrulation at the single cell level in 4D digital embryos.

• DFG Programme: Independent Junior Research Groups
• Major Instrumentation: Digital Scanned Lightsheet Microscope incl. Cameras
• Instrumentation Group: 5090 Spezialmikroskope
• Participating Person: Vladimir Benes, Ph.D.