Publications

Selected publications from the Morpho³ Group and related work on morphogenesis, morphometry, soft matter physics, and geometric approaches to biological form. 

The sex of organ geometry

Laura Blackie, Pedro Gaspar, Salem Mosleh, et al. Nature, 2024.
Uses volumetric imaging and geometric analysis to quantify three-dimensional organ shape, position, and variability in Drosophila.
Published paper

Data-driven quasi-conformal morphodynamic flows

Salem Mosleh, Gary P. T. Choi, L. Mahadevan. Proceedings of the Royal Society A, 2025.
Develops a geometric and data-driven framework for reconstructing growth and shape change from time-resolved biological forms.
Published paper

How to Grow a Flat Leaf

Salem al-Mosleh, L. Mahadevan. Physical Review Letters, 2023.
Combines thin elastic plates with feedback control theory to understand how growing leaves regulate shape.
Published paper

Geometry and dynamics link form, function, and evolution of finch beaks

Salem al-Mosleh, Gary P. T. Choi, Arhat Abzhanov, L. Mahadevan. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2021.
Links mathematical morphometry, developmental dynamics, mechanical function, and evolutionary diversification in finch beaks.
Published paper

Feedback linking cell envelope stiffness, curvature, and synthesis enables robust rod-shaped bacterial growth

Salem al-Mosleh, Ajay Gopinathan, Christian D. Santangelo, Kerwyn Casey Huang, Enrique R. Rojas. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2022.
Shows how mechanical feedback between cell-wall stiffness, curvature, and synthesis supports robust bacterial shape regulation.
Published paper

Growth of form in thin elastic structures

Salem Al Mosleh, Ajay Gopinathan, Christian Santangelo. Soft Matter, 2018.
Studies how growth laws coupled to curvature and stress can stabilize or destabilize growing elastic structures.
Published paper