Animal models are critically important for a mechanistic understanding of embryonic
morphogenesis. For decades, visualizing these rapid and complex multidimensional events …

The avian embryo is a time-honored animal model for understanding vertebrate
development. A key area of extensive study using bird embryos centers on developmental …

The vertebrate body plan is overall symmetrical but left–right (LR) asymmetric in the shape
and positioning of internal organs. Although several theories have been proposed, the …

In the early avian embryo, the developing heart forms when bilateral fields of cardiac
progenitor cells, which reside in the lateral plate mesoderm, move toward the embryonic …

In the early embryo, the brain initially forms as a relatively straight, cylindrical epithelial tube
composed of neural stem cells. The brain tube then divides into three primary vesicles …

Highlights•Physical forces and the mechanical environment generate tissue form.•A series of
tools are used to quantify cellular motions, deformations, and forces.•Imaging and cell …

Physical forces regulate morphogenetic movements and the mechanical properties of
embryonic tissues during development. Such quantities are closely interrelated, as …

Fibrillar collagen is a ubiquitous structural protein that plays a significant role in determining
the mechanical properties of various tissues. The constituent collagen architecture can give …

Congenital heart defects (CHD) are the most prevalent congenital disease, with 45% of
deaths resulting from a congenital defect due to a cardiac malformation. Clinically significant …

Non-uniform stress and strain fields are prevalent in many tissues in vivo, and often
exacerbated by disease or injury. These mechanical gradients potentially play a role in …