Biophysical models of early mammalian embryogenesis

Embryo development is a critical and fascinating stage in the life cycle of many organisms. Despite decades of research, the earliest stages of mammalian embryogenesis are still poorly understood, caused by a scarcity of high-resolution spatial and temporal data, the use of only a few model organisms, and a paucity of truly multi-disciplinary approaches that combine biological research with bio-physical modeling and computational simulation. Here, we explain the theoretical frameworks and biophysical processes that are best suited to modeling the early mammalian embryo, re-view a comprehensive list of previous models, and discuss the most promising avenues for future work.

Automated summary

Embryo development is a critical stage in the life cycle of many organisms, but the earliest stages of mammalian embryogenesis are still poorly understood. This is due to a lack of high-resolution spatial and temporal data, limited use of model organisms, and a lack of interdisciplinary approaches. This review explains the theoretical frameworks and biophysical processes for modeling mammalian embryos, summarizes previous models, and discusses future research directions.