Origin and function of fluctuations in cell behaviour and the emergence of patterns.
Morphogenesis is the process whereby cells assemble into tissues and organs. Recent studies of this process have revealed heterogeneity of individual cell behaviours that contrasts with the deterministic activity of tissues as a whole. Here we review these observations and suggest that fluctuations and heterogeneities are a central substrate for morphogenesis and that there might exist mechanisms dedicated to the averaging of these fluctuations to ensure robust and reproducible behaviours at the tissue level.
Mateus
Ana M
AM
Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EH, UK.
Gorfinkiel
Nicole
N
Arias
Alfonso Martinez
AM
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D016764:Cell Polarity; D048430:Cell Shape; D053263:Gene Regulatory Networks; D006801:Humans; D015398:Signal Transduction; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
D051153:Wnt Proteins