title: Quantitative mechanical evaluation and analysis of Drosophila embryos through the stages of embryogenesis.
abstract: The fruit fly Drosophila embryo is one of the most important model organisms in genetics and developmental biology research. To better understand the biomechanical properties involved in Drosophila embryo research, this work presents a mechanical characterization of living Drosophila embryos through the stages of embryogenesis. Measurements of the mechanical forces of Drosophila embryos are implemented using a novel, in situ, and minimally invasive force sensing tool with a resolution in the range of microN. The measurements offer an essential understanding of penetration force profiles during the microinjection of Drosophila embryos. Sequentially quantitative evaluation and analysis of the mechanical properties, such as Young's modulus, stiffness, and mechanical impedance of living Drosophila embryos are performed by extracting the force measurements throughout the stages of embryogenesis. Experimental results illustrate the changing mechanical properties of Drosophila embryos during development, and thus mathematical models are proposed. The evaluation provides a critical step toward better understanding of the biomechanical properties of Drosophila embryos during embryogenesis, and could contribute to more efficient and significant genetic and embryonic development research on Drosophila.
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical and Biomedical Engineering, University of Nevada-Reno, Reno, Nevada 89557, USA. ytshen@unr.edu
authors.forename: Yantao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cozen
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Xi
authors.forename: Uchechukwa C
authors.initials: UC
authors.lastname: Wejinya
authors.forename: Lina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D004330:Drosophila / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian; D047108:Embryonic Development; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D008846:Micromanipulation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D008954:Models, Biological