Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

A power law for cells.

R B Azevedo1, A M Leroi

  • 1Department of Biology, Imperial College of Science, Technology, and Medicine, Silwood Park, Ascot, Berkshire SL5 7PY, United Kingdom.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|May 2, 2001
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Influence of particle size on the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein detection using IgG-capped gold nanoparticles and dynamic light scattering.

Materials today. Chemistry·2022
Same author

[Anorectal disorders in patients with multiple sclerosis: Physiopathology, prevalence, impact, and management].

Progres en urologie : journal de l'Association francaise d'urologie et de la Societe francaise d'urologie·2019
Same author

The diagnostic value of the functional lumen imaging probe versus high-resolution anorectal manometry in patients with fecal incontinence.

Neurogastroenterology and motility·2018
Same author

SERS Investigation of Cancer Cells Treated with PDT: Quantification of Cell Survival and Follow-up.

Scientific reports·2017
Same author

Acute sacral nerve stimulation reduces visceral mechanosensitivity in a cross-organ sensitization model.

Neurogastroenterology and motility·2016
Same author

[French translation of "An International Urogynecological Association (IUGA)/International Continence Society (ICS) joint report on the terminology for female pelvic floor dysfunction" published in Int Urogynecol J 2010;21(1):5-26].

Progres en urologie : journal de l'Association francaise d'urologie et de la Societe francaise d'urologie·2016
Same journal

Chemotactic self-organization captures the dynamics of mammalian hair follicle patterning.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026
Same journal

Tomographic imaging of superconducting order using particle-hole interference.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026
Same journal

Inhibitory potential of autologous neutralizing antibodies sets quantitative limits on the rebound-competent HIV-1 reservoir.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026
Same journal

Inferring epidemiological parameters under an infectious phylogeography model with visitor dynamics.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026
Same journal

Analytical modeling for suction cup designs for skin-interfaced wearable devices.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026
Same journal

Improving cell-free metabolism through direct integration of artificial respiratory chains.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026
See all related articles

Cell number variability across diverse organisms follows a power law, similar to ecological patterns. This finding offers insights into developmental biology and evolutionary mechanisms shaping organismal traits.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Biology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Quantitative Biology

Background:

  • Darwin noted increased variability in rudimentary or exaggerated structures.
  • The cellular basis for this variability remains largely unexplored.
  • Eutely, a fixed cell number, is known in some species, but variability in others is unquantified.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantify cell number variability in organs across diverse taxa.
  • To investigate the relationship between mean cell number and its variability.
  • To explore the underlying mechanisms and evolutionary implications of cell number variation.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic estimation of organ cell number variability in animals, plants, slime molds, and algae.
  • Application of power law analysis to mean and variance of cell numbers.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Modeling using stochastic branching processes based on cell lineage properties.

    • Main Results:

    • Mean and variance of cell number follow a power law (exponent of 2), akin to Taylor's law.
    • Relative cell number variability (coefficient of variation) varies across taxa and tissues but is largely independent of mean cell number in related species.
    • Stochastic branching models explain the observed power law relationship.

    Conclusions:

    • Cell number variability exhibits predictable scaling laws across diverse life forms.
    • Developmental precision varies, with some taxa showing evolved control over cell numbers.
    • Natural selection likely maintains the scale-independent nature of relative cell number variability.