Monday, January 29, 2018
Dr. Jerzy Blawzdziewicz
Texas Tech University
2:00 - 3:00pm
SEH, B1220
Abstract
The interplay between geometry and mechanics is crucial for a variety of biological processes. That coupling will be analyzed here using locomotion and embryogenesis as important examples. In animal locomotion the geometry of body movements is optimized for efficient propulsion and maneuverability, under constraints associated with the structure of the neuromuscular system. Focusing on locomotion of the nematode C. elegans in 2D and 3D environments, I will discuss the geometry and biomechanics of its turning maneuvers and investigate the optimization and neuromuscular control of nematode gait patterns in different media. To demonstrate how mechanical forces and feedbacks play a subtle yet profound role in guiding form generation processes (e.g., in morphogenesis, organogenesis, and tissue regeneration), my second example will center on the formation of embryonic architecture during fruit fly morphogenesis. My group’s recent results indicate that mechanical feedback is critical for robustness of morphogenetic movements because it provides both local and global coordination of cell activities.