{"id":12432,"date":"2018-02-22T17:50:35","date_gmt":"2018-02-22T16:50:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.embl.de\/?p=12432"},"modified":"2024-03-23T21:48:45","modified_gmt":"2024-03-23T20:48:45","slug":"synchronised-waves-control-embryonic-patterning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/news\/science\/synchronised-waves-control-embryonic-patterning\/","title":{"rendered":"Synchronised waves control embryonic patterning"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

During an embryo\u2019s journey from a single cell to a complex organism, countless patterning processes make sure that the right cells develop in exactly the right location and at the right time. Cells activate specific genes in a rhythmic manner during this early development, resulting in waves of activation sweeping through the embryo. Scientists at EMBL now show that the rhythm between two specific sets of waves \u2013 controlled by the Wnt and Notch pathways \u2013 enables the formation of new segments. Cell<\/em> published the results online on February 22.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The formation of new segments in a mouse embryo is controlled by a molecular clock. Two key signalling pathways in this process are called Wnt and Notch. Both show periodic pulses of activity, which occur at the same pace as segments form. Now, scientists from the Aulehla<\/a> and Merten<\/a> labs at EMBL show that the timing between the two waves is responsible for segmentation. At a specific time point, the Wnt and Notch waves get in sync and overlap, coinciding with the formation of a new segment.<\/p>\n\n\n