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Moritz Mercker

Embryonic pattern formation - the capability of tissue mechanics

During embryogenesis, organisms with complex morphology evolve step by step from a simple system, such as a ball of cells. This is based on a precise and robust sequence of chemical and mechanical pattern formation processes. In the past, researchers have been mainly focused on purely biochemical approaches to explain these shapes and patterns, i.e. mechanical patterns have been assumed to be passive by-products of chemical processes. However, many steps during embryogenesis are still far from being understood.

I investigate a possible key to understand these processes by considering tissue mechanics as an active part in tissue pattern formation. Using mathematical models (mainly PDE-systems related to the Willmore flow coupled with reaction-diffusion equations) and numerical simulations (Finite Element Methods) I investigate which kind of interactions between chemicals and tissue mechanics can lead spontaneously to tissue pattern formation.