Rory Cooper Labat the University of Sheffield

Evolutionary developmental biology

How living patterns take shape.

We investigate how chemical signalling and physical forces interact to shape skin appendage form across diverse vertebrate models, including sharks, chickens and crocodiles.

Explore the research View publications

Cluster of Development, Regeneration & Neurophysiology
School of Biosciences · University of Sheffield

Volumetric fluorescence image of an embryonic chicken wing at E12 showing developing feather buds
LSFMChicken · embryonic wing · E12Image: Rory Cooper
01 / About

Development integrates chemical signalling and mechanical forces.

I am an evolutionary developmental biologist studying the mechanisms that govern biological patterning and morphogenesis.

My interdisciplinary research combines developmental biology and biophysics with advanced volumetric imaging. I focus on the patterning and morphogenesis of skin appendages in diverse vertebrate models, including sharks, chickens and crocodiles.

I currently hold a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Postdoctoral Fellowship and an Independent Research Fellowship in the School of Biosciences at the University of Sheffield. Previously, I spent five years as a postdoc in the Lab for Artificial & Natural Evolution at the University of Geneva, led by Prof Michel Milinkovitch.

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Dr Rory Cooper
Dr Rory CooperPrincipal Investigator
Alizarin red-stained developing small-spotted catshark with patterned dermal denticles
Alizarin red stainingScyliorhinus canicula · developing dermal denticles
02 / Research

From simple states to complex forms.

Using skin appendages as model systems, we explore how chemical signalling and tissue mechanics govern the evolution and development of complex biological forms.

Volumetric fluorescence image of a small-spotted catshark embryo headCatshark embryo head · light-sheet fluorescence microscopy
01

Pattern formation

We study how chemical and mechanical developmental processes govern the precise spatial patterning of skin appendages, from the dermal denticles and teeth of sharks to the feathers and scales of chickens.

Surface rendering of polygonal scales on a developing crocodile headCrocodile head scales · surface geometry
02

Morphogenesis

We explore the chemical and mechanical mechanisms that generate intricate and diverse skin appendage morphologies across a range of vertebrate models.

Chicken leg showing regional diversity in feather and scale morphologyRegional diversity · feathers, scutate and reticulate scales
03

Evolution of form

By comparing skin appendage development across evolutionarily divergent vertebrates, we aim to understand how conserved and divergent developmental mechanisms shape the evolution of diverse skin appendage forms.

03 / Publications

Publications

19 worksGoogle Scholar
192026bioRxivPreprint · in reviewTransforming avian to mammalian modes of digit patterningWiggins, S., Perez, S. S., Placzek, M., Cooper, R. & Towers, M.182025bioRxivPreprint · in reviewShark tooth regeneration: RNAseq reveals genes for unlimited dental renewalThiery, A. P., Martin, K. J., James, K., Cooper, R. L., Standing, A. S., Dillard, W. A., Howitt, C., Nicklin, E. F., Byrum, S., Johanson, Z. & Fraser, G. J.172025iScience28(6) · 112684Chemical and mechanical patterning of tortoise skin scales occur in different regions of the headCooper, R. L., Jahanbakhsh, E. & Milinkovitch, M. C.162025Open Biology15 · 240342Exacerbated sonic hedgehog signalling promotes a transition from chemical pre-patterning of chicken reticulate scales to mechanical skin foldingCooper, R. L., Jahanbakhsh, E., Santos Durán, G. N. & Milinkovitch, M. C.152025PLOS Biology23(3) · e3003061In vivo sonic hedgehog pathway antagonism temporarily results in ancestral proto-feather-like structures in the chickenCooper, R. L. & Milinkovitch, M. C.142025Nature637 · 375–383Self-organized patterning of crocodile head scales by compressive foldingSantos Durán, G. N., Cooper, R. L. (co-first), Jahanbakhsh, E., Timin, G. & Milinkovitch, M. C.132024Developmental Biology516 · 221–236 · reviewEvolution, development, and regeneration of tooth-like epithelial appendages in sharksNicklin, E. F., Cohen, K. E., Cooper, R. L., Mitchell, G. & Fraser, G. J.122024Nature Communications15 · 4073The actin cytoskeleton plays multiple essential roles in structural colour formation in butterfly wing scalesLloyd, V. J., Burg, S. L., Harizanova, J., Garcia, E., Hill, O., Enciso-Romero, J., Cooper, R. L., Flenner, S., Longo, E., Greving, I., Nadeau, N. J. & Parnell, A. J.112023STAR Protocols4(2) · 102324Protocol for the rapid intravenous in ovo injection of developing amniote embryosCooper, R. L., Santos-Durán, G. N. & Milinkovitch, M. C.102023Science Advances9 · eadg9619Transient agonism of the sonic hedgehog pathway triggers a permanent transition of skin appendage fate in the chicken embryoCooper, R. L. & Milinkovitch, M. C.092023Evolution & Development25 · 54–72 · reviewTeeth outside the mouth: the evolution and development of shark denticlesCooper, R. L., Nicklin, E. F., Rasch, L. J. & Fraser, G. J.082022eLife11 · e73173An epithelial signalling centre in sharks supports the homology of tooth morphogenesis in vertebratesThiery, A. P., Standing, A. S., Cooper, R. L. & Fraser, G. J.072020Developmental Biology466 · 59–72Development and regeneration of the crushing dentition in skates (Rajidae)Rasch, L. J., Cooper, R. L. (co-first), Underwood, C. J., Dillard, W. A., Thiery, A. P. & Fraser, G. J.062019iScience19 · 1248–1259Evolution and developmental diversity of skin spines in pufferfishShono, T., Thiery, A. P., Cooper, R. L., Kurokawa, D., Britz, R. & Fraser, G. J.052019EvoDevo10 · 19Conserved gene signalling and a derived patterning mechanism underlie the development of avian footpad scalesCooper, R. L., Lloyd, V. J., Di-Poï, N., Fletcher, A. G., Barrett, P. M. & Fraser, G. J.042018Science Advances4 · eaau5484An ancient Turing-like patterning mechanism regulates skin denticle development in sharksCooper, R. L., Thiery, A. P., Fletcher, A. G., Delbarre, D. J., Rasch, L. J. & Fraser, G. J.032017EvoDevo8 · 8Developing an ancient epithelial appendage: FGF signalling regulates early tail denticle formation in sharksCooper, R. L., Martin, K. J., Rasch, L. J. & Fraser, G. J.022016Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences113 · 14769–14774Sox2+ progenitors in sharks link taste development with the evolution of regenerative teeth from denticlesMartin, K. J., Rasch, L. J., Cooper, R. L., Metscher, B. D., Johanson, Z. & Fraser, G. J.012016Developmental Biology415 · 347–370An ancient dental gene set governs development and continuous regeneration of teeth in sharksRasch, L. J., Martin, K. J., Cooper, R. L., Metscher, B. D., Underwood, C. J. & Fraser, G. J.
03.1 / Journal covers

Research on the cover.

Nature January 2025 cover featuring a Nile crocodile01
Nature2025

Crocodile head-scale morphogenesis

Open Biology April 2025 cover featuring patterned chicken footpad scales02
Open Biology2025

Mechanochemical skin folding

PLOS Biology April 2025 cover featuring a fluorescent chicken wing03
PLOS Biology2025

Shh signalling and feather morphogenesis

Developmental Biology volume 415 cover featuring a computed tomography render of a shark head04
Developmental Biology2016

Shark teeth and denticles

Developmental Biology volume 466 cover featuring a computed tomography render of a skate05
Developmental Biology2020

Development of crushing dentition

04 / People

The team

A growing team exploring how physical and chemical processes shape biological form.

Portrait of Dr Rory Cooper
01

Dr Rory Cooper

Principal Investigator

Portrait of Poppy Harling
02

Poppy Harling

Master’s Student

Portrait of Ryan Cortabitarte
03

Ryan Cortabitarte

Undergraduate Researcher

05 / Opportunities

Join the research

Interested in working with us?

Get in touch to discuss potential PhD, postdoctoral, fellowship and collaborative research opportunities.

Email Rory Current PhD opportunity