Evolution of body axis extension and tissue spreading in the fly embryo

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Steffen Lemke
• Subject Area: Evolutionary Cell and Developmental Biology (Zoology)
• Term: since 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 437994272

How animal body plans evolve remains a fundamental question in biology. While gene regulatory networks (GRNs) are known to drive morphogenesis, emerging evidence suggests that physical forces – such as tissue mechanics, geometry, and spatial constraints – also play an active role in shaping developmental processes. This project explores whether such mechanical interactions can influence the evolutionary trajectory of morphogenetic systems. Focusing on gastrulation in flies, we investigate how coordination between head and trunk tissues is shaped by tissue mechanics and how this may have driven the emergence of novel morphogenetic strategies. Using Drosophila melanogaster and Chironomus riparius as a comparative framework, we analyze epithelial architecture, cell division mechanics, and tissue interactions across species. Our goal is to determine whether morphogenetic conflicts that arise from physical interactions between developing tissues can act as internal selection pressures that bias developmental evolution, and our aim is to provide new insights into how mechanical and genetic factors together guide the evolution of complex body plans.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants