Stem cells and their local microenvironment, or niche, communicate through mechanical
cues to regulate cell fate and cell behaviour and to guide developmental processes. During …

Animal cell shape is largely determined by the cortex, a thin actin network underlying the
plasma membrane in which myosin-driven stresses generate contractile tension. Tension …

There is increasing evidence that both mechanical and biochemical signals play important
roles in development and disease. The development of complex organisms, in particular …

The early development of many organisms involves the folding of cell monolayers, but this
behaviour is difficult to reproduce in vitro; therefore, both mechanistic causes and effects of …

Transmission of mechanical force is crucial for normal cell development and functioning.
However, the process of mechanotransduction cannot be studied in isolation from cell …

Auxetic mechanical metamaterials are artificially architected materials that possess negative
Poisson's ratio, demonstrating transversal contracting deformation under external vertical …

Cells are constantly subjected to a spectrum of mechanical cues, such as shear stress,
compression, differential tissue rigidity and strain, to which they adapt by engaging …

A number of biological tissues have been reported as behaving in an auxetic manner,
defined by a negative Poisson's ratio. This describes the deformation of tissue which …

Studies of chromosome and genome biology often focus on condensed chromatin in the
form of chromosomes and neglect the non-dividing cells. Even when interphase nuclei are …