What seems like a straightforward task for a cell dividing in two is actually an intricate series of engineering puzzles. A dividing cell needs to maneuver its insides so that the right components will end up in each cell, to produce two function
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IMAGE: A neural stem cell and its progeny are seen under high-resolution imagery of their cell membranes in research at the University of Oregon. The stem cell is the large cell. view more
Credit: University of Oregon
EUGENE, Ore. May 19, 2021 High-resolution imaging of fruit flies at the University of Oregon has captured mechanical motions that stem cells use to make neurons, the cells that make up the brain.
These motions coordinate cell division with differentiation, where newly born cells become neurons. Differentiation is essential for building the brain circuitry in complex organisms that underlies human cognition and emotions, said Ken Prehoda, a professor in the UO s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.