Source of this article and featured image is Wired Science. Description and key fact are generated by Codevision AI system.
Genes and physical forces work together to shape living organisms, as revealed by recent research. The Marangoni effect, which causes wine tears, also drives embryo development by creating mechanical flows in cell clusters. Scientists observed this phenomenon in mouse gastruloids, where tissue movement mirrors liquid dynamics. This challenges traditional views of biology, highlighting the role of mechanics alongside genetics. Researchers like Pierre-François Lenne and Alexandre Kabla emphasize how physical principles influence growth at multiple biological scales.
Key facts
- The Marangoni effect, responsible for wine tears, also shapes embryos by creating mechanical flows in cell clusters.
- French biophysicists discovered that this effect drives the elongation of gastruloids, forming a head-and-tail axis.
- Modern imaging techniques have revealed mechanical forces play a critical role in tissue growth and development.
- D’Arcy Thompson’s 1917 theories on physics shaping biology are gaining renewed scientific interest.
- Actin proteins in fruit fly embryos influence cellular stretching, linking genetic activity to mechanical behavior.
