The conference "Biological Morphogenesis: Mechanisms of Morphogenetic Processes, Intra- and Interscale Interactions in Developing Systems, and the Potential and Limitations of Formation" opens a series of scientific events dedicated to the 110th anniversary of the publication of W. D'Arcy Thompson's 1917 book "On Growth and Form." It will be held November 11–12, 2026, at the A.A. Borissiak Paleontological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
The conference will analyze and discuss morphogenetic processes from the perspectives of evolutionary developmental biology, paleontology, phylogenetics, "omics" studies, as well as the concepts of synergetics and self-organization.
The conference will address the following topics and research areas:
- Molecular genetic foundations of the coding of the three-dimensional body plan of multicellular organisms and its transformations during individual development and evolution;
- Physical, geometric, and topological patterns and constraints of biological morphogenesis;
- Pathways and mechanisms of form transformation during the development of multicellularity and coloniality;
- Reconstruction and in silico modeling of form transformation during ontogenesis and phylogenesis;
- Modern concepts of theoretical biology related to the study of morphogenesis.
The proposals with a preliminary title or topic are to be sent to morphogenesis@paleo.ru by September 30, 2026.
The conference will include oral and poster presentations. The organizing committee reserves the right to select papers for oral presentation. Oral presentations are to be 15 minutes long (plus 5 minutes for questions and discussion). Plenary presentations of 30 minutes each are possible. Presentations will be grouped according to common themes. A poster session will run throughout the conference.
The first Information Letter can be found here.