Here’s a link to our new pre-print showing that hindbrain neuropore tissue geometry determines asymmetric cell-mediated closure dynamics. The hindbrain neuropore is a tissue gap over the back of the head which needs to close in order to cover the developing brain with other other cell types. If that does not happen the embryo develops a fatal birth defect called exencephaly (also called anencephaly). Eirini’s work, shown in this pre-print, identifies two different behaviours by which cells around this gap generate mechanical forces needed to close it. Thanks to our collaborations with physicists at Carnegie Mellon, we were able to show that both these behaviours must happen at the same time to describe closure of this gap.

In the image below, the top of the head is on the left, the neck is on the right, and the massive hole between them is the hindbrain neuropore.