Steven Oud

How do multicellular organisms create patterns, and how does evolution “tinker” with these patterning processes to create the seemingly endless forms observed today?

My research delves into the mechanisms behind these phenomena, focusing on how plants develop colourful patterns on their petals and how evolution modifies these patterns over time.

To investigate these questions, I developed a computational model to simulate the evolution of gene regulatory networks (GRNs) responsible for the bullseye pattern in Hibiscus trionum petals.

These evo-devo simulations provide perfect fossil records of developmental patterning processes, and allow us to “replay life’s tape” many times to understand the evolutionary and developmental properties of these petal patterning systems.

By analysing these simulations, we can gain insights into questions such as: Are certain patterning mechanisms more likely to evolve? What is the role of random genetic drift? And how do different conditions shape these processes?