Title：Control of Cellular Behaviors and Noise Attenuation during Development of Spatial Pattern

Speaker： Dr. Lei Zhang

             Beijing International Center for Mathematical Research,
Peking University

Time： 1:30pm Sept 29th 2014

Address： Rm 102, East wing of Old Chemistry Building, Peking Unversity 

Chair：  Prof. Chao Tang,  Center for Quantitative Biology 

Abstract：

     Development and regeneration require plant and animal cells to make decisions based on their locations. The spatial organization of cell fate is often orchestrated by gradients of diffusing molecules. However, stochastic effects such as local fluctuations in morphogen concentration and noise in signal transduction make it difficult for cells to respond to their positions accurately. In this talk, I will first present a cell lineage model that contains Wnt and BMP and their feedback regulations to reveal a reaction–diffusion mechanism for spontaneous formation and regeneration of multiple crypts. Second, I will show a phase field model to study the neuroblast delamination in Drosophila. Dynamics of cell ingression and role of actin-myosin network in apical constriction demonstrate that the myosin signaling drives neuroblast delaminiation. Finally, I will show a multiscale stochastic model to investigate a novel noise attenuation mechanism that relies on more noises in different cellular processes to coordinate cellular decisions during embryonic development.