Lakshmi Balasubramaniam

The paper shows how extracellular matrix stresses spatially bias myoblast fusion and myotube growth through nematic organization and mechanical feedback.

TiFM2.0 improves mechanical measurement and actuation in live embryos with a double-probe system, demonstrating applications in chicken and zebrafish embryos.

The paper shows that asynchronous polarization in mouse embryos leads to heterogeneity in cell fate specification, linking early 4-cell stage asymmetries to later 8-cell stage lineage decisions.

The paper shows that tissue spreading during epiboly in chicken embryos reorganizes the extracellular matrix to establish blastoderm architecture and polarity.

This study identifies force transmission as a key factor in cell competition, showing that stronger intercellular adhesion leads to cell elimination through mechanical stress fluctuations.