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Multicellular Mechanics in the Creation of Anatomical Structures

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Book cover Biomechanics of Active Movement and Division of Cells

Part of the book series: NATO ASI Series ((ASIH,volume 84))

Abstract

Embryonic development is largely a problem of applied engineering. Molecular mechanisms combine with physical forces to create intricate networks of tubes, rods, cables and bearings, among many other types of structures. The illustrations in any textbook of anatomy will show you hundreds of structures at least as intricate (and seemingly well designed) as any ever built by human engineers. Yet the builders of anatomy are not conscious beings, much less intelligent ones, but merely cells and molecules, ultimately controlled by genes. Our problem is to trace the causal chains by which genes bring anatomy into existence.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Coker Hall, CB#3280, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599-3280, USA

    Albert K. Harris

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  1. Albert K. Harris
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Engineering Sciences, Middle East Technical University, 06531, Ankara, Turkey

    Nuri Akkaş

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© 1994 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Harris, A.K. (1994). Multicellular Mechanics in the Creation of Anatomical Structures. In: Akkaş, N. (eds) Biomechanics of Active Movement and Division of Cells. NATO ASI Series, vol 84. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-78975-5_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-78975-5_4

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-78977-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-78975-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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