Mechanobiology and developmental control

T Mammoto, A Mammoto… - Annual review of cell and …, 2013 - annualreviews.org
T Mammoto, A Mammoto, DE Ingber
Annual review of cell and developmental biology, 2013annualreviews.org
Morphogenesis is the remarkable process by which cells self-assemble into complex tissues
and organs that exhibit specialized form and function during embryological development.
Many of the genes and chemical cues that mediate tissue and organ formation have been
identified; however, these signals alone are not sufficient to explain how tissues and organs
are constructed that exhibit their unique material properties and three-dimensional forms.
Here, we review work that has revealed the central role that physical forces and extracellular …
Morphogenesis is the remarkable process by which cells self-assemble into complex tissues and organs that exhibit specialized form and function during embryological development. Many of the genes and chemical cues that mediate tissue and organ formation have been identified; however, these signals alone are not sufficient to explain how tissues and organs are constructed that exhibit their unique material properties and three-dimensional forms. Here, we review work that has revealed the central role that physical forces and extracellular matrix mechanics play in the control of cell fate switching, pattern formation, and tissue development in the embryo and how these same mechanical signals contribute to tissue homeostasis and developmental control throughout adult life.
Annual Reviews