Coordinating Cell Polarity

In recent years, great progress has been made by experimental biologists towards understanding how during plant and animal morphogenesis cells become polarised in a manner that is coordinated between each other and the axes of the tissue. Significant efforts have also been made by theoreticians to model such processes. Nevertheless, we believe that there are a number of barriers to progress: First, although the evidence suggests that similar mechanisms are used by animals and plants, there has been almost no cross-fertilisation between these fields; second, much modelling has been carried out without input from experimentalists, and many experiments have been carried out without reference to plausible models; third even within individual organisms it is apparent that multiple different strategies may be used to coordinate cell polarities, yet those working on different pathways do not always interact.

The aim of this meeting was to bring together as diverse a group as possible of experimental and theoretical biologists who are interested in mechanisms of coordinated cell polarisation in plants and animals. The intention was to focus on concepts and ideas with regard to theories and experimental tests, providing ample time for interactions and discussion.

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