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Tension, contraction and tissue morphogenesis.

Natalie C Heer1, Adam C Martin2

  • 1Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.

Development (Cambridge, England)
|November 30, 2017
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Mathematical and physical principles are increasingly used to understand how organisms develop. This review explores how cell and tissue-level forces shape biological forms, inspired by D'Arcy Thompson's foundational work.

Keywords:
ActinContractilityMorphogenesisMyosinTension

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Area of Science:

  • Developmental Biology
  • Biophysics
  • Mathematical Biology

Background:

  • D'Arcy Thompson pioneered applying physical principles to biology.
  • Morphogenesis, the shaping of organisms, is increasingly understood through quantitative data and modeling.
  • Subcellular cytoskeletal networks and tissue-level forces are key to biological form.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of contractile forces in biological form generation and maintenance.
  • To highlight recent advances in understanding force generation and organization in development.
  • To connect D'Arcy Thompson's ideas to modern developmental biology.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on quantitative experimental data, force measurements, and mathematical modeling.
  • Analysis of subcellular and tissue-level force generation in morphogenesis.
  • Synthesis of current understanding of biological form and development.

Main Results:

  • Contractile cytoskeletal networks are crucial for force generation within cells.
  • Spatial organization of forces at the tissue level dictates morphogenetic outcomes.
  • Cells actively sculpt tissues through the generation and organization of forces.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding force generation and organization is essential for explaining biological form.
  • The integration of physics and mathematics provides powerful insights into developmental biology.
  • D'Arcy Thompson's concepts remain relevant to contemporary research on morphogenesis.