The Lab of Stephan Grill at MPI-CBG has finally made it to Bluesky and we also have a brand new homepage: grill-lab.org
Check it out.

bsky.app/profile/neip...

(4/10)
We quantified these chiral tissue flows in 25 quail embryos and inferred forces using a fluid model, suggesting a torque of 6μNμm is generated locally at the node.

(3/10)
Jerome found cells moving to the left around the node, repositioning a Shh domain to the left, but what makes them do that?

(10/10) 
Finally, a big thank you to all the people involved, in particular to our PIs @stephangrill.bsky.social and Frank Jülicher as well as the @jeromegros.bsky.social lab for all their support throughout this >5year project!!

(9/10) 
In conclusion, we give a mechanical perspective on how the node organises avian development: mechanical coupling of tissue layers allows for the generation of an active chiral torque dipole to break embryonic L/R symmetry. How is this achieved on a cell scale? Stay tuned!

(8/10)
But now comes the really striking result: She found that replacing the meso-/endo tissue with a vitel. membrane is sufficient to restore node rotation. So, you simply need some mech. substrate. sustaining a counter-torque such that the node can drive its own rotation.

(7/10) 
But, what is the substrate? Is it the underlying meso-/endoderm? 
Here come the crazy experiments by Julia: She used an eye-brow to remove the meso-/endo showing that it’s required for node rotation. Notably, meso-/endo grows back yielding a delayed and reduced node rotation.

(6/10)
So, the following picture following mechanical picture of avian L/R sym. break. emerges: actomyosin-activity generates cell-scale torque dipoles that propel the rotation of node and surrounding epiblast with respect to some rigid substrate.

(5/10)
But is the node really capable of making itself rotate? Lasercuts by Julia show yes, providing maybe the first direct evidence for a tissue-scale active chiral torque. Also, we show that the apparent torque is actomyosin-dependent, consistent with previous observations by Jerome.

(4/10)
We quantified these chiral tissue flows in 25 quail embryos and inferred forces using a fluid model, suggesting a torque of 6μNμm is generated locally at the node.

(2/10)
Why is the heart on the left? Somehow, embryos mange to translate mol. chirality to tissue-scale handedness. In various vertebrates, that’s the job of cilia. But birds, chameleons, pigs do it differently, as shown before by the fabulous @jeromegros.bsky.social and @shylonatasha.bsky.social

An active torque dipole across tissue layers drives avian left-right symmetry breaking Unlike in mice, frogs, and fish, left-right (L/R) body axis formation in avian embryos does not arise from the chiral beat of cilia. Instead, a counter-clockwise tissue rotation around Hensen′ node, t...

(1/10)
I am excited to finally share our work on avian left/right symmetry breaking with you. We reveal a tissue-scale active torque dipole generated at the Hensen’s node, thanks to crazy experiments by Julia @juliapfanzelter.bsky.social and some analysis by me.
doi.org/10.1101/2025...