Hydra molecular network reaches criticality at the symmetry-breaking axis-defining moment.
We study biological, multicellular symmetry breaking on a hollow cell sphere as it occurs during hydra regeneration from a random cell aggregate. We show that even a weak temperature gradient directs the axis of the regenerating animal--but only if it is applied during the symmetry-breaking moment. We observe that the spatial distribution of the early expressed, head-specific gene ks1 has become scale-free and fractal at that point. We suggest the self-organized critical state to reflect long range signaling, which is required for axis definition and arises from cell next-neighbor communication.
Soriano
Jordi
J
Experimentalphysik I, Universität Bayreuth, D-95440 Bayreuth, Germany.
Colombo
Cyril
C
Ott
Albrecht
A
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000502:physiology; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology; D006829:Hydra / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D012038:Regeneration / Q000502:physiology; D013696:Temperature
D015415:Biomarkers