Dr Fengzhu Xiong

I am interested in the ways in which developing tissues produce and respond to mechanical forces in order to achieve the correct shape and pattern. We use early avian embryos as a model system. The large size and accessibility of these embryos allow us to image cell and tissue dynamics, perform molecular genetic perturbations, and deploy novel mechanical tools such as soft gels, cantilevers and nanorobots to measure and apply forces. Some of our ongoing projects are: the role of paraxial mesoderm forces on body axis straightness (bilateral symmetry) and neural folding, lumen pressure and tissue mechanics in the early central nervous system, the cellular responses to tissue forces in the axial progenitors, and the regulation of global tension on the early chicken embryo.

Co-workers (full list at https://www.xionglab.org/people):Yisha Lan
Ana Hernandez Rodriguez
Susannah McLarenLakshmi BalasubramaniamFengtong JiRuoheng LiKiara KokSandy XingAimee Perry