During embryogenesis, the processes that control how cells differentiate and interact to form particular tissues and organs with precise timing and shape are of fundamental importance. One prominent example of such processes is vertebrate somitogenesis, which is governed by a molecular oscillator called the segmentation clock. The segmentation clock system is initiated in the presomitic mesoderm in which a set of genes and signaling pathways exhibit coordinated spatiotemporal dynamics to establish regularly spaced boundaries along the body axis; these boundaries provide a blueprint for the development of segment-like structures such as spines and skeletal muscles. The highly complex and dynamic nature of this in vivo event and the design principles and their regulation in both normal and abnormal embryogenesis are not fully understood. Recently, live-imaging has been used to quantitatively analyze the dynamics of selected components of the circuit, particularly in combination with well-designed experiments to perturb the system. Here, we review recent progress from studies using live imaging and manipulation, including attempts to recapitulate the segmentation clock in vitro. In combination with mathematical modeling, these techniques have become essential for disclosing novel aspects of the clock.

在胚胎发生过程中，控制细胞如何分化和相互作用以精确的时间和形状形成特定组织和器官的过程至关重要。此类过程的一个突出例子是脊椎动物的体细胞发生，该过程由称为分段时钟的分子振荡器控制。分割时钟系统始于早熟中胚层，其中一组基因和信号通路表现出协调的时空动力学，以沿着体轴建立规则间隔的边界。这些边界为诸如脊柱和骨骼肌之类的节状结构的发展提供了蓝图。此体内事件的高度复杂和动态性质以及正常和异常胚胎发生中的设计原理及其调控尚未得到充分了解。最近，实时成像已用于定量分析电路中选定组件的动态，特别是结合精心设计的实验来扰动系统。在这里，我们回顾了使用实时成像和操作的研究的最新进展，包括尝试在体外概述分段时钟的尝试。结合数学建模，这些技术对于公开时钟的新颖方面已经变得至关重要。