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On the growth and form of the gut

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  • Thierry Savin

    (School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University
    Present addresses: Department of Materials, Polymer Physics, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland (T.S.); Department of Molecular Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA (N.A.K.); Department of Modern Mechanics, USTC-Hefei, Anhui 230027, China (H.L.).)

  • Natasza A. Kurpios

    (Harvard Medical School
    Present addresses: Department of Materials, Polymer Physics, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland (T.S.); Department of Molecular Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA (N.A.K.); Department of Modern Mechanics, USTC-Hefei, Anhui 230027, China (H.L.).)

  • Amy E. Shyer

    (Harvard Medical School)

  • Patricia Florescu

    (School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University)

  • Haiyi Liang

    (School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University
    Present addresses: Department of Materials, Polymer Physics, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland (T.S.); Department of Molecular Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA (N.A.K.); Department of Modern Mechanics, USTC-Hefei, Anhui 230027, China (H.L.).)

  • L. Mahadevan

    (School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University
    Harvard University
    Harvard University
    Harvard Medical School)

  • Clifford J. Tabin

    (Harvard Medical School)

Abstract

The developing vertebrate gut tube forms a reproducible looped pattern as it grows into the body cavity. Here we use developmental experiments to eliminate alternative models and show that gut looping morphogenesis is driven by the homogeneous and isotropic forces that arise from the relative growth between the gut tube and the anchoring dorsal mesenteric sheet, tissues that grow at different rates. A simple physical mimic, using a differentially strained composite of a pliable rubber tube and a soft latex sheet is consistent with this mechanism and produces similar patterns. We devise a mathematical theory and a computational model for the number, size and shape of intestinal loops based solely on the measurable geometry, elasticity and relative growth of the tissues. The predictions of our theory are quantitatively consistent with observations of intestinal loops at different stages of development in the chick embryo. Our model also accounts for the qualitative and quantitative variation in the distinct gut looping patterns seen in a variety of species including quail, finch and mouse, illuminating how the simple macroscopic mechanics of differential growth drives the morphology of the developing gut.

Suggested Citation

  • Thierry Savin & Natasza A. Kurpios & Amy E. Shyer & Patricia Florescu & Haiyi Liang & L. Mahadevan & Clifford J. Tabin, 2011. "On the growth and form of the gut," Nature, Nature, vol. 476(7358), pages 57-62, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:476:y:2011:i:7358:d:10.1038_nature10277
    DOI: 10.1038/nature10277
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    Cited by:

    1. Patrick D McMullen & Erin Z Aprison & Peter B Winter & Luis A N Amaral & Richard I Morimoto & Ilya Ruvinsky, 2012. "Macro-level Modeling of the Response of C. elegans Reproduction to Chronic Heat Stress," PLOS Computational Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(1), pages 1-12, January.
    2. Ying Yang & Pekka Paivinen & Chang Xie & Alexis Leigh Krup & Tomi P. Makela & Keith E. Mostov & Jeremy F. Reiter, 2021. "Ciliary Hedgehog signaling patterns the digestive system to generate mechanical forces driving elongation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-14, December.
    3. Boyang Qin & Bonnie L. Bassler, 2022. "Quorum-sensing control of matrix protein production drives fractal wrinkling and interfacial localization of Vibrio cholerae pellicles," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.
    4. Stefan Harmansa & Alexander Erlich & Christophe Eloy & Giuseppe Zurlo & Thomas Lecuit, 2023. "Growth anisotropy of the extracellular matrix shapes a developing organ," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-16, December.

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