Cytoskeletal basis of tissue dynamics in insect extra-embryonic tissues
- Beschreibung
In insects such as Tribolium castaneum, extra-embryonic membranes (the amnion and serosa) surround the developing embryo and protect it from dehydration and other environmental stresses. These tissues are also essential for embryonic development. In particular, they contribute to morphogenesis, the process by which the embryo changes shape, including a key event called dorsal closure, where the sides of the embryo move and fuse to form a continuous body.
These large-scale tissue movements depend on contractile forces, which are typically generated by the cytoskeleton through the coordinated activity of actin and myosin. However, how these molecular components drive contractility in the amnion and serosa remains poorly understood.
In this project, students will investigate extra-embryonic tissue dynamics by live imaging Tribolium embryos using established fluorescent reporter lines for actin, myosin, and extra-embryonic tissues. They will then apply quantitative image analysis techniques, including cell segmentation (identifying individual cells in images) and measurements of tissue shape, to analyse how changes at different scales (subcellular, via actin and myosin dynamics, cellular, via cell shape changes, and tissue-level) are coordinated during morphogenesis.
This project will provide insight into how mechanical properties of cells and tissues drive embryonic development, while giving students hands-on experience in developmental biology, live imaging, and quantitative data analysis.- Beschreibung des interdisziplinären Teils des Projekts
- This project will combine traditional wet-lab biology (live imaging of transgenic lines) with quantitative image analysis methods such as cell segmentation. Students with a biological background, as well as those with a quantitative background (mathematics, computer science, etc) and an interest in biology are encouraged to apply.
- Projektzeitraum
- Sommersemester 2026
- Bewerbungszeitraum
- 07. bis 20.04.2026
- Durchführung
- semesterbegleitend
- Details zu Projektzeitraum und Durchführung
The project can be carried out as a block module or over a semester, depending on the student’s availability and availability schedule. The exact timeline and workload will be individually arranged.
- Studienfach
- offen für alle Studienfächer
- Betreuende
- Dr. Shannon Taylor
- Institut
- Institut für Biologie (190) (Genetics)
- Sprache
- deutsch
- Teilnehmendenanzahl
- min. 2, max. 3
- Arbeitsaufwand
-
ca. 90 Stunden pro Teilnehmende:r
| 3
ECTS-Punkte
Arbeitsaufwand (Stunden und ggf. ECTS) sind ungefähre Angaben. Die tatsächlich vergebenen ECTS-Punkte ergeben sich aus der tatsächlich geleisteten Arbeit.
- Für dieses Projekt ist ein Motivationsschreiben des Studierenden erforderlich
- Projektart
- experimentell
- Lernziele
-
Die Teilnehmende lernen in diesem Projekt:
Students will gain an introduction to developmental biology, quantitative biology, and quantitative image analysis, and executing their own research project.
- Anmerkungen für Studierende
A brief (one paragraph) letter of motivation, explaining your degree focus and what you hope to get out of this research opportunity, is required for this project. No prior experience is required. Coding experience but is not required; we can support students to develop coding skills. Students must have good English language skills, as I do not speak German!