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Related Concept Videos

Determination01:51

Determination

During embryogenesis, cells become progressively committed to different fates through a two-step process: specification followed by determination. Specification is demonstrated by removing a segment of an early embryo, “neutrally” culturing the tissue in vitro—for example, in a petri dish with simple medium—and then observing the derivatives. If the cultured region gives rise to cell types that it would normally generate in the embryo, this means that it is specified. In contrast, determination...
Determining the Plane of Cell Division02:13

Determining the Plane of Cell Division

Positioning the cell division plane is a critical step during development and cell differentiation, particularly during mitosis when the plane is essential for determining the size of the two daughter cells. The cell division plane is perpendicular to the plane of chromosome segregation, but different types of organisms have different cell division mechanisms to suit their morphology and function. 
Animal cells
In animal cells, the cleavage furrow forms along the plane of cell division starting...
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Cells Coordinate Growth and Proliferation

Cell size is a significant factor impacting cellular design, function, and fitness. There exists some internal coordination by which cells double their masses before division, thus, achieving homeostasis. Coordination between cell growth and proliferation depends on the checkpoints in between cell cycle phases. Loss of coordination or failure in the checkpoint mechanism can drive the cell to uncontrolled growth and loss of cellular function. Like dividing cells that coordinate cellular growth,...
Cytoskeletal Coordination in Cell Migration01:32

Cytoskeletal Coordination in Cell Migration

A migrating cell changes its shape during the cyclic events of attachment and detachment from the substratum and repositions the cell organelles correspondingly. These complex events are orchestrated by the dynamic cytoskeletal network comprising actin filaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules. Cytoskeletal crosstalk — the direct and indirect communication between the different components — is crucial for this coordination. Direct communication involves various linker proteins that...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Using Confocal Analysis of Xenopus laevis to Investigate Modulators of Wnt and Shh Morphogen Gradients
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Determining the scale of the Bicoid morphogen gradient.

Inbal Hecht1, Wouter-Jan Rappel, Herbert Levine

  • 1Center for Theoretical Biological Physics and Department of Physics, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA. inbal.hecht@gmail.com

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|February 5, 2009
PubMed
Summary

Cytoplasmic streaming, not nuclear trapping, explains the Bicoid morphogen's extended reach in Drosophila embryos. This finding resolves discrepancies between diffusion models and observed Bicoid protein gradients.

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Last Updated: Jun 25, 2026

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Published on: October 1, 2011

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Biology
  • Genetics
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Bicoid is a crucial morphogen establishing the anterior-posterior axis in Drosophila embryos.
  • Simple diffusion/degradation models fail to explain the observed Bicoid gradient length scale.
  • Discrepancies exist between theoretical models and experimental observations of Bicoid distribution.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate mechanisms explaining the Bicoid gradient's large length scale.
  • Evaluate the role of nuclear trapping and cytoplasmic streaming on Bicoid distribution.
  • Develop a model reconciling Bicoid gradient features with experimental data.

Main Methods:

  • Modeling the effects of nuclear trapping and release on Bicoid diffusion.
  • Incorporating advective transport from cytoplasmic streaming into a Bicoid model.
  • Comparing model predictions with experimental Bicoid profile data.

Main Results:

  • Nuclear trapping and release do not significantly alter the Bicoid morphogen length scale.
  • Cytoplasmic streaming effectively explains the observed Bicoid gradient length scale.
  • A model incorporating cytoplasmic streaming reproduces experimental features like steady profiles and improved scaling.

Conclusions:

  • Cytoplasmic streaming is a key mechanism for establishing the Bicoid gradient in Drosophila.
  • The proposed model, including advection, resolves discrepancies in Bicoid morphogen distribution.
  • Understanding Bicoid transport is vital for comprehending early embryonic patterning.