Plithotaxis: How crowds of cells find their way

Scientitst describe the principle of plithotaxis, in which migrating cells pull on one another in a highly disordered but effective manner to reach their common goal: the movement of the crowd as a whole.
Scientitst describe the principle of plithotaxis, in which migrating cells pull on one another in a highly disordered but effective manner to reach their common goal: the movement of the crowd as a whole.
(23/05/2011)

Processes like tissue regeneration and cancer metastasis rely on groups of cells moving long distances without losing their cohesiveness, but the way in which this is achieved was unknown until now. In the journal Nature Materials, scientists behind pioneering research describe the the newly discovered principle of plithotaxis, in which migrating cells pull on one another in a highly disordered but effective manner to reach their common goal: the movement of the crowd as a whole. The team behind the study included Xavier Trepat, a lecturer with the UB's Department of Physiology and a researcher for the Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC).

 
Scientitst describe the principle of plithotaxis, in which migrating cells pull on one another in a highly disordered but effective manner to reach their common goal: the movement of the crowd as a whole.
Scientitst describe the principle of plithotaxis, in which migrating cells pull on one another in a highly disordered but effective manner to reach their common goal: the movement of the crowd as a whole.
23/05/2011

Processes like tissue regeneration and cancer metastasis rely on groups of cells moving long distances without losing their cohesiveness, but the way in which this is achieved was unknown until now. In the journal Nature Materials, scientists behind pioneering research describe the the newly discovered principle of plithotaxis, in which migrating cells pull on one another in a highly disordered but effective manner to reach their common goal: the movement of the crowd as a whole. The team behind the study included Xavier Trepat, a lecturer with the UB's Department of Physiology and a researcher for the Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC).