The cells in human bodies are subject to both chemical and mechanical forces. But until recently, scientists have not understood much about how to manipulate the mechanical side of that equation. That ...

Only two weeks after fertilization, the first sign of the formation of the three axes of the human body (head/tail, ventral/dorsal, and right/left) begins to appear. At this stage, known as ...

Small fold – big role: A tissue fold known as the cephalic furrow, an evolutionary novelty that forms between the head and the trunk of fly embryos, plays a mechanical role in stabilizing embryonic ...

The same pulling force that causes “tears” in a glass of wine also shapes embryos. It’s another example of how genes exploit mechanical forces for growth and development. In March, a group of ...

Scientists in the Brivanlou lab used light-inducible gene expression (yellow circle) and embryo models to demonstrate that, at the start of gastrulation, body-axis formation requires an interplay ...

Trial of strength at the cellular level: Cells are in constant competition with each other and so eliminate diseased or unwanted cells. Cell competition is therefore a central principle for ...