Public lecture - Morphogens in the ontogeny and phylogeny of cognitive functions

Image Heuer 2020

By Alain Prochiantz, Collège de France

A mouse egg cell always develops into a mouse. This transition from a single cell to a billion-cell organism, whose shape can be predicted from the egg cell, is a fascinating phenomenon. A major entry into its study is provided by the existence of mutations that change the shape of organs and have made it possible to identify ‘shape-inducing’ molecules.

Starting from theoretical models such as those of Alan Mathison Turing (1912-1954) and Lewis Wolpert (1929-2021), this lecture will address the question of the nature and mechanism of action of these morphogens with particular attention to the development and evolution of the brain and cognitive functions.

The lecture will be in French.