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Mechanisms of Morphogenesis

3rd Edition - June 10, 2023

Author: Jamie A. Davies

Paperback ISBN:

9 7 8 - 0 - 3 2 3 - 9 9 9 6 5 - 6

eBook ISBN:

9 7 8 - 0 - 3 2 3 - 9 8 5 2 8 - 4

Mechanisms of Morphogenesis, Third Edition offers a bottom-up discussion of mechanisms of cell and tissue morphogenesis in a diverse array of organisms, including prokaryotes,… Read more

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Mechanisms of Morphogenesis, Third Edition offers a bottom-up discussion of mechanisms of cell and tissue morphogenesis in a diverse array of organisms, including prokaryotes, animals, plants and fungi. Across foundational, applied and methods-based chapters, this book examines molecular nano-machines cooperation, generate cell shape, direct cell migration, and shape, form and rates of growth of various tissues in the body. Each topic is illustrated with experimental data from real systems, with particular reference to gaps in current knowledge and likely future developments, along with strategies to apply basic morphogenesis science across ever evolving applications.

Newly added chapters feature case-study-driven discussions of morphogenesis in natural embryos and organoids, and illustrate how pathological morphogenesis can generate variants of body form. This edition has also been updated with analysis of large-scale and scale-invariant mechanisms, for example, morphogenesis by differential growth in mechanically connected tissues.

Cover image
Title page
Table of Contents
Copyright
Dedication
Preface to Third Edition
A Note on References
Section I. Introductory Section
Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION—THE AIMS AND STRUCTURE OF THIS BOOK
Chapter 2. KEY PRINCIPLES OF MORPHOGENESIS
THE IDEA OF ‘MECHANISM’
EMERGENCE
EMERGENCE, TRAP-DOOR PROCESSES AND THE DANGERS OF POST HOC REASONING
FEEDBACK, SELF-ASSEMBLY AND ADAPTIVE SELF-ORGANIZATION
QUESTIONS OF AGENCY AND PURPOSE
Chapter 3. The Power and Limitations of Macro-Molecular Self-Assembly
Introduction to Self-Assembly
Self-Assembly of Bilayered Membranes
One-Dimensional Self-Assembly: Actin
One-Dimensional Self-Assembly: Collagen
Three-Dimensional Self-Assembly: Simple Viruses
Quality Control in Self-Assembling Structures
Limitations to Self-Assembly
Section II. Cell Shape and Cell Morphogenesis
Chapter 4. Morphogenesis of Individual Cells: A Brief Overview
Flattening and Elongation of Cells
Constriction/Wedging of Cells
Production of Cell Processes
Cell Fusions
Cell Cavitation
Changes in Cell Shape Can Directly Drive Morphogenesis of Tissues
Chapter 5. Animal Cell Shape: The Importance of the Cytoskeleton
Tensegrity
Building and Placement of Tensile Microfilaments
Adaptive Self-Organization of the Micro-filament Tension System
Assembly of the Microtubule System
Formation of Special Structures: Actin-Based Cell Protrusions
Formation of Special Structures: Microtubule-Based Cell Protrusions
Summary
Chapter 6. Cellular Morphogenesis in Plants
Diffuse Cell Elongation in Plants
Focussed Cell Growth: Root Hairs, Pollen Tubes and Trichomes
Section III. Cell Migration
Chapter 7. Cell Migration in Development: A Brief Overview
Morphogenesis by Coalescence of Dispersed Cells
Translocation of Groups of Cells from One Place to Another
Dispersal of Cells from One Site to the Rest of the Body
Migration by Cell Processes
Chapter 8. The Nano-Machinery of Locomotion
Protrusion: The Actin-Based Nanomachinery of the Leading Edge
Filopodia in Cell Crawling
Invadopodia
Control of Formation of Lamellipodia/Filopodia
Advance of the Cell Body
Retraction of the Rear of the Cell
Amoeboid Motion (Bleb-Based Motility)
Key Points to Take Forward into the Next Chapters
Chapter 9. Guidance by Chemotaxis
The Chemotactic Gradient
Reading the Chemotactic Gradient
Linking the Internal Representation of the External Gradient to Motility
How Good a Model Is D discoideum for Other Species?
Chemorepulsion
Multiple Sources of Chemorepellant can Define a Pathway in a Way that Multiple Sources of Chemoattractant Cannot
The Usefulness of Noise to Decision Making by Migrating Cells
Integration of Chemotaxis and Contact Guidance
Chapter 10. Guidance by Galvanotaxis
Cell Movement in Response to Electric Fields
Electric Fields in Living Systems
Galvanotaxis in Tissue Engineering
Chapter 11. Guidance by Contact
Haptotaxis
Durotaxis—Guidance of Cells by Gradients of Mechanical Compliance
Topotaxis
Attraction by Contact-Driven Cell Signal Transduction
Pathways of Attractive Molecules in the Embryo
Guidance of Cells by Aligned Fibres
Guidance by Inhibition of Locomotion
Chapter 12. Waypoint Navigation in the Embryo
Waypoint Navigation By Germ Cells in Drosophila. Melanogaster
Waypoint Navigation By Growth Cones
Dense Arrays of Waypoints Make Pathways
The Many Waypoints of the Vertebrate Visual System
Waypoint Navigation in Regeneration
Chapter 13. Cooperative Migration of Mesenchymal Cells
Why Migrate as a Collective?
The Debatable Concept of Leader and Follower Cells
Case Study: Collective Cell Migration By the Neural Crest
Case Study: The Rostral Migratory Stream
Case Study: Precursors of Enteric Neurons
Concluding Remarks
Chapter 14. Condensation of Cells
Condensation Through Enhanced Cell Adhesion
Condensation By Elimination of Interstitial Matrix
Section IV. Epithelial Morphogenesis
Chapter 15. The Epithelial State: A Brief Overview
The Making of an Epithelium
The Forces that Shape an Epithelium
Chapter 16. Neighbour Exchange and Convergent Extension
Cellular Mechanisms of Epithelial Convergent Extension
Selection of which Boundaries Shrink and which Expand: the Planar Polarity System
Mesenchymal Convergent Extension
Hybrid Mechanisms
Chapter 17. Epithelial Morphogenesis: Closure of Holes
Dorsal Closure in Drosophila melanogaster
Wound Healing in the Embryo
Cell Crawling in Hole Closure
Wound Healing in Adults
Chapter 18. Invagination and Evagination: The Making and Shaping of Folds and Tubes
Invagination
Drivers of Invagination (1): Apical Constriction
Drivers of Invagination (2): Basal Wedging
Drivers of Invagination (3): Cell-On-Cell Migration (‘Telescoping’)
Drivers of Invagination (4): Canopy Contraction
Drivers of Invagination (5): Matrix Mechanics
Hybrid Mechanisms
Orthogonal Invagination: Neural Tube Formation in Vertebrates
Invagination without Tube Formation
Evagination of Imaginal Discs
Chapter 19. Epithelial Fusion
Tracheal Fusion in Drosophila melanogaster
Fusion in Capillary Connections
Epithelial Fusion in Palate Development
Epithelial Fusion in Production of Tubes by Orthogonal Invagination
Chapter 20. Epithelial Branching
Branching by Sprouting
Simple Culture Models of Branching
Branching in the Tracheal System of Drosophila melanogaster
Branching Epithelia of Vertebrates
The Elongation of New Branches
Switching Between Modes of Branching
How Conserved Is Branching By Sprouting?
Branching By Clefting
Patterning the Branching Tree
Intussusceptive Branching
Automatic Versus Planned Architecture in Branching Systems
Chapter 21. Boundaries to Epithelial Movement
Avoiding the Problem of Boundary Control
Protecting a Border by Controlling Migration
Theory 1: Boundary Formation by the Physics of Differential Adhesion (Caution!)
Theory 2: Boundary Formation by Tension
Reduced Cell Proliferation—An Aid to Boundary Stability?
Section V. Morphogenesis By Cell Proliferation and Death
Chapter 22. Growth, Proliferation and Death – A Brief Overview
Cell Proliferation Is Controlled at Several Scales
Control of Cell Proliferation
A Brief Introduction to the Cell Cycle
Local Control of Cell Proliferation
Tissue-Scale Control of Proliferation: A Mechanism for Keeping Different Cell Populations in Balance
Large-Scale Control of Cell Proliferation
Interplay Between Global and Organ-specific Signals
Plants Show a Direct Connection Between Growth and Morphogenesis
Chapter 23. Morphogenesis by Orientated Cell Division
Orientation of the Mitotic Spindle
Adaptive Self-Organization of Mitotic Orientation and Hertwig's Tule
Orientated Cell Division in Plants
Chapter 24. Morphogenesis by Elective Cell Death
Mechanisms of Elective Cell Death
Sculpting Tissues by Elimination of Cells
Cell Death in Balancing the Embryo: The Trophic Theory
Anoikis and Error Correction
Elective Cell Death in Plants
Death for Life
Section VI. Morphogenesis in Context
Chapter 25. From Mechanisms to Morphology: A Brief Overview
Activating Morphogenetic Mechanisms
Restricting Competence in Space: Pattern Formation
Restricting Competence in Time: Progressions and Clocks
Signals Controlling Morphogenesis
Summary of This Chapter
Chapter 26. Case Studies From Natural Development
Dictyostelium discoideum: From Single Cells to a Coherent Multicellular Organism
Morphogenesis of the Tetrapod Limb
Morphogenesis of Fruit Fly Wings
The Surprizing Simplicity of Gut Looping in the Chick Embryo
Chapter 27. Morphogenesis in Organoids
Organoids Made from Random Mixes of Progenitor Cells
From Random Mix to Micro-order
Why Only Micro-order?
Similar Phenomena in Other Organoids
What This Might Say About Natural Morphogenesis and Evolution
Chapter 28. Pathological Morphogenesis
Induced Formation of New Organs: Crown Gall Disease in Plants
Formation of Supernumerary Bones: Myositis Ossificans in Humans
Aberrant Induction of Fusions and Connections
Deliberately Activated Morphogenetic Mechanisms: The Basis of Surgery
Making the Best of It: Coping With Large-Scale Changes of Pattern
Pathological Morphogenesis and Evolution
Section VII. Modelling Morphogenesis
Chapter 29. Modelling Morphogenesis: A Brief Overview
The Purposes of Modelling
Broad Strategies for Modelling: Mathematical Versus Synthetic Biological
Chapter 30. Mechanical and Mathematical Models of Morphogenesis
Physical Models
Computer Models of Morphogenesis
Concluding Remarks
Chapter 31. Modelling Using Living Cells: Environment Switching, Tissue Engineering, and Synthetic Morphology
Environment Switching: The Rise of the Xenobots
Tissue Engineering as a Technique for Modelling Morphogenesis
Synthetic Morphology
Section VIII. Conclusion and Perspectives
Chapter 32. Conclusions and Perspectives
Provisional Conclusions From the Mechanisms Described in Foregoing Chapters
Do Morphogenetic Systems Exhibit Purposive, Goal-Seeking Behaviour?
The Multilayer Organization of Morphogenetic Processes
Robustness of Morphogenesis
The Useful-Yet-Dangerous Metaphor of Modularity
Are Multi-Layered Morphogenetic Systems Hierarchical?
Why Are Morphogenetic Mechanisms Organised the Way They Are?
Looking Forwards: What Remains to Be Done?
Index

Jamie A. Davies

Since 1995 Davies has run his own laboratory at the University of Edinburgh, with a multidisciplinary focus on discovering how mammalian organs construct themselves and how we can use apply knowledge to build new tissues and organs for those in need. Some of the work of his 20-strong research team is 'conventional' developmental biology; identifying signals and mechanisms used in natural organ development. Some is bioinformatic analysis (we host the editorial office of an international database for renal development – www.gudmap.org – funded by the USA National Institutes of Health, and the www.guidetopharmacology.org database, an international effort for the International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology). Some of his work is in tissue engineering – his lab has recently developed a method to produce engineered 'fetal kidneys' from simple suspensions of stem cells, an activity that attracted considerable press attention last year. Finally, his lab is pioneering the application of synthetic biology techniques to tissue engineering, to 'program' cells to make structures that are designed rather than evolved.

Davies has published around 140 research papers in the field of mammalian development, has published one major specialist monograph (Mechanisms of Morphogenesis, Elsevier, 2005 2nd Ed 2014), one public engagement book (Life Unfoloding, OUP, 2013 (Hardback), 2015 (paperback), now in translation also) and has edited three multi-author books in the fields of development, stem cells and tissue engineering. His contributions to research and teaching in this area have been recognized by having been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine and a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Davies served as Deputy Chair of the National Centre for 3Rs, a government agency that promotes research that refines, reduces or replaces animal experiments. He has also served as Editor-in-Chief of the research journal Organogenesis for 8 years, and is currently an Editor of Journal of Anatomy and PLOS One.

Affiliations and expertise

University of Edinburgh, UK