Separability of positional information from its processing in development

Ascertain whether positional information in developmental systems can be separated from the downstream processing mechanisms that interpret it, and develop a formal framework to distinguish informational content from processing within morphogen-based patterning models.

Background

The review revisits Wolpert’s positional-information paradigm and subsequent debates on whether morphogen gradients encode positional ‘addresses’ independent of the networks that interpret them.

Resolving the separability question would clarify how information-theoretic measures should be applied in development and guide modeling choices that decouple gradient formation from gene network computation.