Ahead of the curve: imaging and computational analysis of shape and form in the developing zebrafish ear

这个项目将探索脊椎动物内耳——听觉和平衡的器官——的复杂形状是如何在胚胎中产生的。在这个感觉器官中，半规管具有高度有序的三维排列，这对它们的功能至关重要。耳道由连接壶腹的狭窄导管或管组成，壶腹是一个圆形的房间，里面容纳着极其敏感的感觉毛细胞。胚胎中导管、壶腹和感觉组织的形成需要细胞形状的协调变化，以产生薄或增厚的上皮和高上皮曲率区域。该项目旨在描述和理解斑马鱼胚胎的这些过程，使用尖端的成像和计算技术。成功的学生将使用光片显微镜对发育中的耳朵进行成像，使用野生型和突变斑马鱼系。转基因荧光标记可用于标记细胞膜和细胞核。该学生将主要在Whitfield小组（生物成像）工作，但将与Frangi小组（计算生物学）密切合作，选择和应用计算技术来分析他们的成像数据。我们正在寻找一位热心的学生，他热衷于采用成像和计算方法来解决生物学问题。

This project will explore how the complex shape of the vertebrate inner ear-the organ of hearing and balance-is generated in the embryo. Within this sensory organ, the semicircular canals have a highly ordered three-dimensional arrangement, which is critical for their function. The canals consist of narrow ducts or tubes linked to ampullae, rounded chambers that house the exquisitely sensitive sensory hair cells. Formation of the ducts, ampullae and sensory tissue in the embryo requires co-ordinated changes in cell shape to generate thin or thickened epithelium, and regions of high epithelial curvature. This project aims to describe and understand these processes in the zebrafish embryo, using cutting edge imaging and computational techniques.The successful student will use light-sheet microscopy to image the developing ear, using both wild-type and mutant zebrafish lines. Transgenic fluorescent markers are available to label cell membranes and nuclei. The student will primarily be based in the Whitfield group (biological imaging), but will work closely with the Frangi group (computational biology) to select and apply computational techniques to analyse their imaging data.We are seeking an enthusiastic student who is keen to embrace both imaging and computational approaches to tackle a biological problem.