title: Imaging the Cell and Molecular Dynamics of Craniofacial Development: Challenges and New Opportunities in Imaging Developmental Tissue Patterning.
abstract: The development of the vertebrate head requires cell-cell and tissue-tissue interactions between derivatives of the three germ layers to coordinate morphogenetic movements in four dimensions (4D: x, y, z, t). The high spatial and temporal resolution offered by optical microscopy has made it the main imaging modularity for capturing the molecular and cellular dynamics of developmental processes. In this chapter, we highlight the challenges and new opportunities provided by emerging technologies that enable dynamic, high-information-content imaging of craniofacial development. We discuss the challenges of varying spatial and temporal scales encountered from the biological and technological perspectives. We identify molecular and fluorescence imaging technology that can provide solutions to some of the challenges. Application of the techniques described within this chapter combined with considerations of the biological and technical challenges will aid in formulating the best image-based studies to extend our understanding of the genetic and environmental influences underlying craniofacial anomalies.
authors.affiliation: Molecular and Computational Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.
authors.forename: Le A
authors.initials: le A
authors.lastname: Trinh
authors.affiliation: Molecular and Computational Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA. Electronic address: sfraser@provost.usc.edu.
authors.forename: Scott E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Fraser
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization / Q000379:methods; D007700:Kinetics; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000379:methods; D012886:Skull / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism
keywords: Craniofacial; Imaging; Laser scanning microscopy; Molecular dynamics; Temporal–spatial scales