Imaging, Visualization, and Computation in Developmental Biology

Embryonic development is highly complex and dynamic, requiring the coordination of numerous molecular and cellular events at precise times and places. Advances in imaging technology have made it possible to follow developmental processes at cellular, tissue, and organ levels over time as they take place in the intact embryo. Parallel innovations of in vivo probes permit imaging to report on molecular, physiological, and anatomical events of embryogenesis, but the resulting multidimensional data sets pose significant challenges for extracting knowledge. In this review, we discuss recent and emerging advances in imaging technologies, in vivo labeling, and data processing that offer the greatest potential for jointly deciphering the intricate cellular dynamics and the underlying molecular mechanisms. Our discussion of the emerging area of “image-omics” highlights both the challenges of data analysis and the promise of more fully embracing computation and data science for rapidly advancing our understanding of biology.