A single-cell model for oxygen distribution system

The terminal cells in the larval trachea of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster provide a very interesting experimental model for investigating the design principles of biological transport networks. These cells have a unique tree-like morphology and a gas-filled lumen, which enables them to work as efficient oxygen delivery devices to the nearby tissues. These cells can be imaged in both live and fixed tissues, and in a wide range genetic and environmental conditions. I will report on our ongoing experimental and theoretical efforts to reverse-engineer the natural algorithm responsible for the morphogenesis of these remarkable cells, focusing on the scaling laws that connect the structure of the terminal cells to the area of the oxygenated tissue.