Thank you to my two amazing mentors @bagnatlab.bsky.social, @ditalialab.bsky.social and co-author James Norman. Excited to hear your thoughts!

(8/n) To decode the circuit components, we use genetics to show the increasing expression of Egf ligand near the bifurcation. We propose negative feedback required for the oscillations is provided by the transcription of spry and dusp

(7/n) We show that the first cycle is slower and built a simple mathematical model to understand how an oscillatory circuit can generate different frequencies following a bifurcation

(6/n) We found interesting features of the oscillations. Remarkably, oscillators are very synchronized. We map emergence of synchronicity and the first oscillation cycle

(5/n) This provides an example of how biology uses oscillators as timers to generate periodic patterns!

(4/n) 4) These oscillations result in periodic increases in the expression of segmentation pathway genes, allowing induction and maturation of cells to build segments

(3/n) We found that the notochord cells display intra-cellular Erk oscillations of around 10 hours

(2/n) We wanted to investigate what controlled the pace at which segmentation proceeded

(1/n) The zebrafish notochord slowly builds the vertebral column of the spine over ~ 2 weeks through a process of molecular segmentation (=division of tissue into units)