Taking control of stem cell dynamics

Complex non-linear dynamics orchestrate stem cell phenotypes.

Systems biology tools can aid the understanding of origins and mechanisms behind such dynamics but are usually unable to explain if and how they have a role in cell fate determination.

In this talk, I will start discussing combined experimental and computational approaches to model multiscale gene expression, proliferation and spatial dynamics in stem cell cultures, with a focus on multistability of pluripotency genes [1].

I will then propose synthetic biology and applications of control theory to directly engineer gene expression dynamics in stem cells. I will show results obtained using controllers embedded into cells [2], or implemented externally by means of microfluidics/microscopy platforms [3, 4].

I will finally propose the use of cybergenetics methodologies to design superior culture protocols and to automatically prototype mammalian cell non-linear dynamics.

[1] Godwin et al. NPJ Systems Biology and Applications 2017

[2] Pedone et al. Nature Communications 2019

[3] Postiglione et al. ACS Synthetic Biology 2018

[4] Pedone et al. ACS Synthetic Biology 2021