Title: Embryonic Economics

Abstract:

The traditional view of embryonic development is that of a highly orchestrated symphony, where everything is under the control of a conductor. Another view, however, is that development arises from the cooperative behavior of quasi-independent agents. We demonstrate that cells in early embryonic development, as modeled by gastruloids, can behave as independent agents with their own predispositions. We show that this heterogeneity is beneficial to proper development via individual clones displaying division of labor. We further show that cells display comparative advantage, with clones sometimes adopting unfamiliar roles in the service of the greater good. Together, these results provide a basis for the concept of cellular individuality during development, guided by principles taken from economics.