Lost in mechanobiology, what's next?: Missing tools related to the physics of the system

Oscillations in collective cell migration

“…Both internal and external frictions should be modified, possibly by changing the concentration of adhesive proteins on the surface and by tuning the strength of cell-cell junctions concomitantly. A precise characterization of dissipation processes, and a better understanding of their role in cell migration, would probably helps us to explain the the formation and disruption of collective patterns [83].…”

“…Specifically, two issues seem to have the biggest relevance: the source of the active elasticity which seems to characterize the response of monolayers to stresses and the nature of the feedback mechanism allowing for the presence of sustained oscillations in biological (overdamped) systems. Regarding this second matter, most models rely on an interaction between cell polarity and another quantity, generally of a mechanical nature, making a direct measurement of stresses at cell-cell junctions [83] and a univocal way to assess cell polarity compelling future directions. Moreover, neither of these factors can be regarded at without considering the underlying architecture of the cytoskelton, which remains an extremely important player for supracellular signal propagation and behavioral control in general.…”