Information Flow and Computation in Living Systems (3) - Thomas Lecuit (2025-2026)

Information Flow and Computation in Living Systems (3) - Thomas Lecuit (2025-2026)

by Cornelia Schwayer

Life & Natural Systems Biology PSALife sciences: general issuesPSAXComputational biology
🎙 Cornelia Schwayer 👥 29K 📅 July 6, 2026 ⏱ 36 min 👁 112 📄 original study 🧭 2026-08-13
Available in: English (current) Français

Keywords

organoidYAPDelta-Notchchromatinregeneration

Summary

Cornelia Schwayer presents her research on how the gut gets patterned during regeneration, using intestinal organoids as a model system. She addresses two main questions: when does tissue patterning occur, and how is it regulated. She shows that before cell fate specification, there is cell-to-cell heterogeneity in YAP activity, which is a mechanosensor. Using a machine learning pipeline to segment single cells in 3D, she and her colleagues built a lateral inhibition model that integrates YAP activity and neighborhood signals. The model predicts that cells transition from a metastable heterogeneous state to a stable Delta-positive state through an intermediate state, and that this requires both low lateral inhibition and high YAP activity. They identified FoxA1 as the factor X that integrates YAP and Notch signaling, and validated this with perturbations and in vivo irradiation experiments. They also found that tissue density acts as a regenerative timer, with an optimal intermediate density leading to maximal heterogeneity. The findings suggest a general principle where heterogeneity precedes patterning, and they observed similar phenomena in human organoids and other epithelial tissues.

177 words

Critical Evaluation

The talk presents a compelling and well-structured narrative, with a clear hypothesis and rigorous experimental validation. The use of multiple scales (single cell, tissue) and integration of computational modeling with experimental data is a strength. The speaker is transparent about the limitations and the need for further validation. The sources are primarily the speaker’s own work and collaborations, and the talk is hosted by a reputable institution. The title accurately reflects the content. The main weakness is that the talk is a conference presentation, so the details are not fully peer-reviewed, and some simplifications are made for the audience.

99 words

Title / Content Match

The title accurately reflects the content, which focuses on information flow and computation in living systems, specifically tissue patterning.

Quality & Reliability

8/10

The talk presents original research from a postdoctoral project, with detailed methodology (machine learning, single-cell ATAC-seq, CRISPR perturbations) and validation in vivo. The speaker is a researcher at FMI, and the talk is hosted by Collège de France, a prestigious institution. However, the talk is a conference presentation, not peer-reviewed, and some details are simplified for a live audience.

Key Moments

Markers derived by PSI from the transcript: the creator did not define chapters.

Cited Sources

Concurring Sources

External References

Contribution & Novelties

The talk presents a novel integrative approach combining high-content imaging, machine learning, and mathematical modeling to understand tissue patterning. It identifies FoxA1 as a key integrator of YAP and Notch signaling, and reveals tissue density as a regenerative timer. This work provides a framework for understanding how intrinsic and extrinsic signals are integrated across scales.

Pour aller plus loin :

85 words

Radar Profile

The radar profile shows high scores in information quantity, quality, and reliability, with a slightly lower technical level, indicating a well-supported and detailed presentation that is accessible to a scientific audience.

Reliability 8/10

💬 No comments were provided for analysis.