We are excited to announce the publication of our study, “Arnold tongue entrainment reveals dynamical principles of the embryonic segmentation clock”, in eLife. This research provides new insights into the entrainment of the segmentation clock in mouse embryos, demonstrating how its rhythm can be synchronized with external oscillatory signals.
The study was initiated by Ina during her tenure in the lab of Alexander Aulehla and was significantly advanced by Paul Gerald Sanchez, who played a pivotal role in developing the experimental framework and analytical techniques. Additionally, Victoria Mochulska from the lab of Paul François contributed significantly to the theoretical modeling aspects of the study, enhancing our understanding of the nonlinear dynamics underlying the segmentation clock.
Through the use of microfluidic systems to apply periodic Notch pathway inhibition, we observed that the segmentation clock could be phase- and period-locked across a wide range of entrainment parameters. This work reveals that the segmentation clock exhibits characteristics of a highly nonlinear oscillator, providing a deeper understanding of its dynamical properties.