Cecilia B. Moens

Conserved and divergent programs govern cerebellar output neuron development in zebrafish

This study identifies conserved and divergent developmental programs for cerebellar output neurons in zebrafish, showing shared origins with other vertebrates and unique mechanisms for eurydendroid cell organization.

Distinct transcriptional programs define cranial motor neuron subtypes during vertebrate development

This study identifies distinct transcriptional programs in zebrafish cranial motor neurons during development, showing that identity precedes axon targeting and is conserved across species.

Remote homology and functional genetics unmask deeply preserved Scm3/HJURP orthologs in metazoans

The paper identifies previously unknown Scm3/HJURP orthologs in metazoans using remote homology, structural modeling, and functional genetics, revealing their conserved role in centromere function despite sequence divergence.

Position-independent functional refinement within the vagus motor topographic map

The paper shows that vagus motor neurons in zebrafish can generate appropriate peripheral responses even when transplanted, indicating post-establishment circuit refinement depends on synaptic transmission.

A single-cell transcriptional timelapse of mouse embryonic development, from gastrula to pup

12.4 million single-nucleus transcriptomes from 83 staged mouse embryos (E8 to P0) yield 190 cell types, a zygote-to-pup cell-type tree, and rapid postnatal transcriptional shifts.

Deep molecular, cellular and temporal phenotyping of developmental perturbations at whole organism scale

The paper presents single cell transcriptomic data from zebrafish embryos with genetic perturbations to analyze developmental variation and cell type composition.

Met is required for oligodendrocyte progenitor cell migration in Danio rerio

This study shows that Met signaling is required for oligodendrocyte progenitor cell migration in zebrafish.

Systematic reconstruction of the cellular trajectories of mammalian embryogenesis

This paper reconstructs cellular trajectories of mammalian embryogenesis using scRNA-seq data and identifies key transcription factors at branch points.

Retinoic acid organizes the vagus motor topographic map via spatiotemporal regulation of Hgf/Met signaling

This study shows Retinoic Acid regulates Hgf/Met signaling dynamics to organize the vagus motor topographic map in zebrafish.

Parallel control of mechanosensory hair cell orientation by the PCP and Wnt pathways

The paper shows that PCP and Wnt pathways independently control hair cell orientation in zebrafish lateral line, with Wnt mutants causing concentric patterns and PCP mutants causing random orientations.

Multiple zebrafish atoh1 genes specify a diversity of neuronal types in the zebrafish cerebellum

The study shows that multiple zebrafish atoh1 genes specify distinct neuronal populations and promote delamination from the neuroepithelium, critical for neuronal maturation in the cerebellum.

A genetic basis for molecular asymmetry at vertebrate electrical synapses

The paper identifies a genetic basis for molecular asymmetry at vertebrate electrical synapses in zebrafish, showing that two Connexins function presynaptically and postsynaptically, respectively, and are required for escape responses.