LAUSR

the first cell fates of the early embryo. We also found that as cell choose their fate, they extend long filopodia to pull their neighbor cells closer, revealing a mechanism for cell polarization and embryo compaction. Finally, we established quantitative imaging and laser ablation methods to show how anisotropies in mechanical forces generated by the cell cortex form the pluripotent inner mass of the embryo. Our work is uncovering mechanisms explaining how the early mammalian embryo forms and grows.