Vol. 50 Nos. 2/3 (2006) pp.77-368

Developmental Morphodynamics

Cover legend

The cover image entitled “Cocoon” (2005) illustrates a fractal representation which is curiously reminiscent of a biological structure, such as the extracellular matrix or organ stroma. Many forms in Nature present fractal structure. Fractals constitute an efficient form of storing information about complex structures by providing an instruction or code and reiterating this various times with both fixed and variable parameters. Developmental morphodynamics contributes to revealing the physical and geometrical principles which underlie biological processes that take place during development, some of which are fractal. Kindly reproduced with generous permission from contemporary artist Cory Ench (http://www.enchgallery.com).

Preface. Developmental Morphodynamics - bridging the gap between the genome and embryo physics
Lev V. Beloussov and Richard Gordon
Int. J. Dev. Biol. (2006) 50: 79-80

Introductory Papers

Morphomechanics: goals, basic experiments and models
Lev V. Beloussov and Vassily I. Grabovsky
Int. J. Dev. Biol. (2006) 50: 81-92 Direct physical formation of anatomical structures by cell traction forces. An interview with Albert Harris
Lev Beloussov
Int. J. Dev. Biol. (2006) 50: 93-101 From observations to paradigms; the importance of theories and models. An interview with Hans Meinhardt
Richard Gordon and Lev Beloussov
Int. J. Dev. Biol. (2006) 50: 103-111

Contributions

Gastrulation in amphibian embryos, regarded as a succession of biomechanical feedback events
Lev V. Beloussov, Natalia N. Luchinskaya, Alexander S. Ermakov and Nadezhda S. Glagoleva
Int. J. Dev. Biol. (2006) 50: 113-122 Principles of branch formation and branch patterning in Hydrozoa
Stefan Berking
Int. J. Dev. Biol. (2006) 50: 123-134 A hypothesis linking low folate intake to neural tube defects due to failure of post-translation methylations of the cytoskeleton
Natalie K. Björklund and Richard Gordon
Int. J. Dev. Biol. (2006) 50: 135-141 Blastula wall invagination examined on the basis of shape behavior of vesicular objects with laminar envelopes
Bojan Bozic, Jure Derganc and Sasa Svetina
Int. J. Dev. Biol. (2006) 50: 143-150 Do lamellipodia have the mechanical capacity to drive convergent extension?
G. Wayne Brodland
Int. J. Dev. Biol. (2006) 50: 151-155 Geometry and mechanics of teleost gastrulation and the formation of primary embryonic axes
Elena M. Cherdantseva and Vladimir G. Cherdantsev
Int. J. Dev. Biol. (2006) 50: 157-168 The dynamic geometry of mass cell movements in animal morphogenesis
Vladimir G. Cherdantsev
Int. J. Dev. Biol. (2006) 50: 169-182 Effects of microgravity on cell cytoskeleton and embryogenesis
Susan J. Crawford-Young
Int. J. Dev. Biol. (2006) 50: 183-191 On the origin of pattern and form in early Metazoans
Frederick W. Cummings
Int. J. Dev. Biol. (2006) 50: 193-208 An anisotropic-viscoplastic model of plant cell morphogenesis by tip growth
Jacques Dumais, Sidney L. Shaw, Charles R. Steele, Sharon R. Long and Peter M. Ray
Int. J. Dev. Biol. (2006) 50: 209-222 Morphogenesis, plasticity and irreversibility
Chikara Furusawa and Kunihiko Kaneko
Int. J. Dev. Biol. (2006) 50: 223-232 Biophysical regulation during cardiac development and application to tissue engineering
Sharon Gerecht-Nir, Milica Radisic, Hyoungshin Park, Christopher Cannizzaro, Jan Boublik, Robert Langer and Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic
Int. J. Dev. Biol. (2006) 50: 233-243 Mechanics in embryogenesis and embryonics: prime mover or epiphenomenon?
Richard Gordon
Int. J. Dev. Biol. (2006) 50: 245-253 Mechanical control of tissue morphogenesis during embryological development
Donald E. Ingber
Int. J. Dev. Biol. (2006) 50: 255-266 Morphomechanical programming of morphogenesis in Cnidarian embryos
Yulia A. Kraus
Int. J. Dev. Biol. (2006) 50: 267-275 Morphodynamics of phyllotaxis
Alexander G. Malygin
Int. J. Dev. Biol. (2006) 50: 277-287 Before programs: The physical origination of multicellular forms
Stuart A. Newman, Gabor Forgacs and Gerd B. Müller
Int. J. Dev. Biol. (2006) 50: 289-299 Pulling forces acting on Hox gene clusters cause expression collinearity
Spyros Papageorgiou
Int. J. Dev. Biol. (2006) 50: 301-308 Spatial patterns formed by chemotactic bacteria Escherichia coli
Andrey A. Polezhaev, Ruslan A. Pashkov, Alexey I. Lobanov and Igor B. Petrov
Int. J. Dev. Biol. (2006) 50: 309-314 The natural variability of morphogenesis: a tool for exploring the mechanics of gastrulation movements in amphibian embryos
Victoria A. Scobeyeva
Int. J. Dev. Biol. (2006) 50: 315-322 Biophysical mechanisms of cardiac looping
Larry A. Taber
Int. J. Dev. Biol. (2006) 50: 323-332 The role and limits of a gradient based explanation of morphogenesis: a theoretical consideration
Nikoloz Tsikolia
Int. J. Dev. Biol. (2006) 50: 333-340 The evolution of the structure of tubulin and its potential consequences for the role and function of microtubules in cells and embryos
Jack A. Tuszynski, Eric J. Carpenter, J. Torin Huzil, Wojtek Malinski, Tyler Luchko and Richard F. Luduena
Int. J. Dev. Biol. (2006) 50: 341-358 Tissue morphogenesis: a surface buckling mechanism
Konstantin Y. Volokh
Int. J. Dev. Biol. (2006) 50: 359-365

Book Review

A review of Stuart Pivar´s book Lifecode: The Theory of Biological Self Organization
Richard Gordon
Int. J. Dev. Biol. (2006) 50: 367-368

The International Journal of Developmental Biology
ISSN 1696-3547 (online) and 0214-6282 (print)