title: Genetic oscillations. A Doppler effect in embryonic pattern formation.
abstract: During embryonic development, temporal and spatial cues are coordinated to generate a segmented body axis. In sequentially segmenting animals, the rhythm of segmentation is reported to be controlled by the time scale of genetic oscillations that periodically trigger new segment formation. However, we present real-time measurements of genetic oscillations in zebrafish embryos showing that their time scale is not sufficient to explain the temporal period of segmentation. A second time scale, the rate of tissue shortening, contributes to the period of segmentation through a Doppler effect. This contribution is modulated by a gradual change in the oscillation profile across the tissue. We conclude that the rhythm of segmentation is an emergent property controlled by the time scale of genetic oscillations, the change of oscillation profile, and tissue shortening.
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstr 108, 01307 Dresden, Germany. Medical Research Council (MRC)-National Institute for Medical Research, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London, NW7 1AA, UK. Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Soroldoni
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, Nöthnitzer Strasse 38, 01187 Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Jörg
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstr 108, 01307 Dresden, Germany. Departamento de Física, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires and Instituto de Física de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Pabellón 1, Ciudad Universitaria, 1428 Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Luis G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Morelli
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstr 108, 01307 Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Richmond
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstr 108, 01307 Dresden, Germany. Laboratory for Optical and Computational Instrumentation, University of Wisconsin at Madison, 271 Animal Sciences, 1675 Observatory Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schindelin
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, Nöthnitzer Strasse 38, 01187 Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jülicher
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstr 108, 01307 Dresden, Germany. Medical Research Council (MRC)-National Institute for Medical Research, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London, NW7 1AA, UK. Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK. aoates@nimr.mrc.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Andrew C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Oates
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000235:genetics*; D004301:Doppler Effect; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000502:physiology; D010507:Periodicity; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics