Systems Biology of C. elegans Early Embryogenesis.

Caenorhabditis elegans is expected to be the first multicellular organism whose embryogenesis is fully reconstructed on the computer. To achieve this goal, technologies for high-throughput quantitative data collection, systematic model generation, and large-scale 3-dimensional simulation are needed to be developed. We have developed a system that automatically acquires early embryonic cell lineage of C. elegans. We have also developed a 'finite element method' based simulation tool for microtubule dependent sperm pronucleus movement in early C. elegans embryo. Those technologies will help us to develop system level understanding of C. elegans embryo.