Block Patterns

At the earliest stage of our lives, genes switch on and off inside stem cells, guiding them towards different destinies in future tissues and organs. Here a technique called CRISPR interference blocks specific genes inside groups of human pluripotent stem cells, mimicking some of the early decisions made inside embryos. A high-powered microscope watches how artificially-coloured cell clumps develop differently over one, three and five days (across each row). The red-coloured cells have a switched-off ROCK1 gene (middle) and move towards the edge, while blocking CDH1 (bottom, blue) directs cells into little islands, compared to the white cells with normal genes (top). This technique may be used to study the effects of other developmental genes, creating realistic models for delicate embryonic stages. These may reveal insights into miscarriage or perhaps developmental disorders, as well as morphogenesis – the unseen patterns that shape early life.

Written by John Ankers

John Ankers

Writer

A former researcher in systems biology, John is now an online biology tutor and professional coach supporting the wellbeing of scientists and NHS professionals. He's writing, too, of course.

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• Image from work by Ashley RG Libby and colleagues
• Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, San Francisco, CA, USA
• Image originally published under a Creative Commons Licence (BY 4.0)
• Published in eLife, October 2018