Kadiyala, U. orcid.org/0000-0002-5437-3123, Sprinzak, D. orcid.org/0000-0001-6776-6957, Monk, N.A.M. orcid.org/0000-0002-5465-4857 et al. (7 more authors) (2025) From genes to patterns: five key dynamical systems concepts to decode developmental regulatory mechanisms. Development, 152 (14). dev204617. ISSN: 0950-1991
Abstract
Developmental biology seeks to unravel the intricate regulatory mechanisms orchestrating the transformation of a single cell into a complex, multicellular organism. Dynamical systems theory provides a powerful quantitative, visual and intuitive framework for understanding this complexity. This Primer examines five core dynamical systems theory concepts and their applications to pattern formation during development: (1) analysis of phase portraits, (2) bistable switches, (3) stochasticity, (4) response to time-dependent signals, and (5) oscillations. We explore how these concepts shed light onto cell fate decision making and provide insights into the dynamic nature of developmental processes driven by signals and gradients, as well as the role of noise in shaping developmental outcomes. Selected examples highlight how integrating dynamical systems with experimental approaches has significantly advanced our understanding of the regulatory logic underlying development across scales, from molecular networks to tissue-level dynamics.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2025. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium provided that the original work is properly attributed. |
Keywords: | Developmental dynamics; Dynamical systems; Modelling; Signalling; Waddington landscape |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Science (Sheffield) > School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 07 Aug 2025 08:05 |
Last Modified: | 07 Aug 2025 08:05 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | The Company of Biologists |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1242/dev.204617 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:230015 |