TY - JOUR T1 - Arnold tongue entrainment reveals dynamical principles of the embryonic segmentation clock JF - bioRxiv DO - 10.1101/2021.10.20.465101 SP - 2021.10.20.465101 AU - Paul Gerald Layague Sanchez AU - Victoria Mochulska AU - Christian Mauffette Denis AU - Gregor Mönke AU - Takehito Tomita AU - Nobuko Tsuchida-Straeten AU - Yvonne Petersen AU - Katharina F. Sonnen AU - Paul François AU - Alexander Aulehla Y1 - 2022/01/01 UR - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2022/04/30/2021.10.20.465101.abstract N2 - Living systems exhibit an unmatched complexity, due to countless, entangled interactions across scales. Here we aim to understand a complex system, i.e. segmentation timing in mouse embryos, without a reference to these detailed interactions. To this end, we develop a coarse-grained approach, in which theory guides the experimental identification of the segmentation clock entrainment responses.We demonstrate period- and phase-locking of the segmentation clock across a wide range of entrainment parameters, including higher-order coupling. These quantifications allow to derive the phase response curve (PRC) and Arnold tongues of the segmentation clock, revealing its essential dynamical properties. Our results indicate that the somite segmentation clock has characteristics reminiscent of a highly non-linear oscillator close to an infinite period bifurcation and suggests the presence of long-term feedbacks.Combined, this coarse-grained theoretical-experimental approach reveals how we can derive simple, essential features of a highly complex dynamical system, providing precise experimental control over the pace and rhythm of the somite segmentation clock.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest. ER -