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Jam Starts

3D imaging and computer modelling reveals how cells pack into and organise in a primitive brain

31 March 2020

Jam Starts

Patterns guide our earliest moments. Cells fill developing tissues and organs in specific arrangements – and understanding these hidden rules brings hope for repair later in life. Looking for patterns in the developing brain, scientists turned to the flatworm Schmidtea mediterranea, which conveniently regrows its entire head after decapitation. After staining its different types of neuron in different colours, they watch under a high-powered microscope as stripy patterns emerge in the new brain tissue, where identical cells settle close to, but not next to each other. Mathematical models suggest cellular 'jamming' moves cells into mixed groups as they cram into the tissue, helping to explain the diverse connections found in the brain and other tissues. Model simulations in this simpler brain can help make predictions about how human tissues develop and repair too –perhaps one day guiding tissue engineers in matching lab-grown patterns of stem cells with injured bodies.

Written by John Ankers

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BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences until Jul 2023, it is now run independently by a dedicated team of scientists and writers. The website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biology, and its influence on medicine. The ever-growing archive of more than 4000 research images documents over a decade of progress. Explore the collection and see what you discover. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.

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