Gastrulation morphogenesis in synthetic systems

Recent advances in pluripotent stem cell culture allow researchers to generate not only most embryonic cell types, but also morphologies of many embryonic structures, entirely in vitro. This recreation of embryonic form from naive cells, known as synthetic morphogenesis, has important implications for both developmental biology and regenerative medicine. However, the capacity of stem cell-based models to recapitulate the morphogenetic cell behaviors that shape natural embryos remains unclear. In this review, we explore several examples of synthetic morphogenesis, with a focus on models of gastrulation and surrounding stages. By varying cell types, source species, and culture conditions, researchers have recreated aspects of primitive streak formation, emer-gence and elongation of the primary embryonic axis, neural tube closure, and more. Here, we describe cell behaviors within in vitro/ex vivo systems that mimic in vivo morphogenesis and highlight opportunities for more complete models of early development.

Automated summary

Recent advances in pluripotent stem cell culture have made it possible to generate embryonic cell types and structures entirely in vitro, known as synthetic morphogenesis. However, the ability of stem cell-based models to recapitulate the morphogenetic cell behaviors of natural embryos is still uncertain. In this review, examples of synthetic morphogenesis, focusing on gastrulation and surrounding stages, are explored, highlighting opportunities for more complete models of early development.