Simple principles in complex development: two case studies
Vito Dichio, PhD
Team  Statistical physics and inference for biology, ENS Paris

Abstract
Biological systems display strikingly complex and adaptive dynamics. Yet beneath this apparent complexity, «simple» rules and constraints may govern developmental trajectories. In this talk, I will present two case studies that address different aspects of maturation. First, I will discuss the maturation of brain wiring in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. I will introduce a parsimonious model of brain wiring development that statistically reproduces the experimental trajectory up to the adult connectome. Second, I will turn to the maturation of behaviour, focusing on the locomotor development of the miniature fish Danionella cerebrum. Here, we identify a transition from continuous to burst-and-coast swimming that is not driven by a preprogrammed neural switch, but instead emerges as an energy-saving strategy directly tied to the animal’s swimming strength. Together, these works show how key aspects of biological development can be traced back to simple underlying principles — highlighting the role of physics in uncovering them.

Invited by Rosa Cossart
Monday October 13th at 11am, Inmed conference room