Geometric encoding of information in morphogenesis and regeneration

Abstract: Morphogenesis and regeneration require biological systems to robustly and reproducibly form complex tissue shapes, a process that necessitates precise encoding of genetic patterning and signaling information. While information theory has successfully explained cellular gene expression and neural encoding, existing mathematical frameworks are largely restricted to static, one-dimensional domains, failing to capture the dynamic, three-dimensional nature of growing tissues. This project aims to bridge this gap by developing a new spatial formalism that integrates information theory with the mechanics of morphogenesis. By modeling how organisms exploit information to guide development—using optimality principles to test coding strategies—the researchers seek to uncover the fundamental rules that coordinate growth and signaling to achieve reproducible biological forms.