The early Drosophila embryo as a model system for quantitative biology

With the rise of new tools, from controlled genetic manipulations and optogenetics to improved microscopy, it is now possible to make clear, quantitative and reproducible measurements of biological processes. The humble fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, with its ease of genetic manipulation combined with excellent imaging accessibility, has become a major model system for performing quantitative in vivo measurements. Such measurements are driving a new wave of interest from physicists and engineers, who are developing a range of testable dynamic models of active systems to understand fundamental biological processes. The reproducibility of the early Drosophila embryo has been crucial for understanding how biological systems are robust to unavoidable noise during development. Insights from quantitative in vivo experiments in the Drosophila embryo are having an impact on our understanding of critical biological processes, such as how cells make decisions and how complex tissue shape emerges. Here, to highlight the power of using Drosophila embryogenesis for quantitative biology, I focus on three main areas: (1) formation and robustness of morphogen gradients; (2) how gene regulatory networks ensure precise boundary formation; and (3) how mechanical interactions drive packing and tissue folding. I further discuss how such data has driven advances in modelling.