Abstract
Does embryonic development exhibit characteristic temporal features? This is apparent in evolution, where evolutionary change has been shown to occur in bursts of activity. Using two animal models (Nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans and Zebrafish, Danio rerio) and simulated data, we demonstrate that temporal heterogeneity exists in embryogenesis at the cellular level, and may have functional consequences. Cell proliferation and division from cell tracking data is subject to analysis to characterize specific features in each model species. Simulated data is then used to understand what role this variation might play in producing phenotypic variation in the adult phenotype. This goes beyond a molecular characterization of developmental regulation to provide a quantitative result at the phenotypic scale of complexity.
Competing Interest Statement
The authors have declared no competing interest.
Footnotes
balicea{at}openworm.org
Several sections of the text have been edited or expanded upon. This includes part of the Introduction, Methods, Discussion, and some References. I have also added a table to the Discussion.
https://github.com/Orthogonal-Research-Lab/Periodicity-in-the-Embryo