Reference:

Science (2020) - Contact area-dependent cell communication and the morphological invariance of ascidian embryogenesis - Guignard L.*, Fiuza U.-M.*, Leggio B., Laussu J., Faure E., K., Michelin G., Biasuz K., Hufnagel L., Malandain G., Godin C., Lemaire P

Based on high-throughput light-sheet imaging and new computational methods for the automated segmentation, tracking, and analysis of whole-cell behaviors in high-throughput light-sheet microscopy datasets, the work by Guignard et al suggests that area-of-contact-based cell communication enhances the developmental robustness of ascidians to genetic modifications.

News articles:

Les cellules embryonnaires se parlent pour s'organiser - CNRS le Journal 08/2020

Cris ou chuchotements: le dilemne des cellules embryonnaires - CNRS INSB actualités 07/2020

Top: embryonic development of an ascidian from egg to tadpole. The part framed in white is the part of embryogenesis that we have imaged and then segmented using our ASTEC software (below, segmented cells coloured according to their larval tissue fate). The lower part of the figure illustrates that the light green cells "whisper" instructions to their immediate neighbours by short-range signals. Figure credits: Léo Guignard.