title: On the growth and form of the gut.
abstract: The developing vertebrate gut tube forms a reproducible looped pattern as it grows into the body cavity. Here we use developmental experiments to eliminate alternative models and show that gut looping morphogenesis is driven by the homogeneous and isotropic forces that arise from the relative growth between the gut tube and the anchoring dorsal mesenteric sheet, tissues that grow at different rates. A simple physical mimic, using a differentially strained composite of a pliable rubber tube and a soft latex sheet is consistent with this mechanism and produces similar patterns. We devise a mathematical theory and a computational model for the number, size and shape of intestinal loops based solely on the measurable geometry, elasticity and relative growth of the tissues. The predictions of our theory are quantitatively consistent with observations of intestinal loops at different stages of development in the chick embryo. Our model also accounts for the qualitative and quantitative variation in the distinct gut looping patterns seen in a variety of species including quail, finch and mouse, illuminating how the simple macroscopic mechanics of differential growth drives the morphology of the developing gut.
authors.affiliation: School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Savin
authors.forename: Natasza A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Kurpios
authors.forename: Amy E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Shyer
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Florescu
authors.forename: Haiyi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mahadevan
authors.forename: Clifford J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Tabin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002642:Chick Embryo; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004548:Elasticity; D005260:Female; D046369:Finches / Q000196:embryology; D007422:Intestines / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000196:embryology*; D008643:Mesentery / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000196:embryology; D051379:Mice; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D008954:Models, Biological; D011784:Quail / Q000196:embryology; D012399:Rotation; D012408:Rubber
chemical_list: D012408:Rubber