Shape Shifters

All 50-100 trillion cells in our body are tiny contortionists that can change shape on the outside by rearranging themselves on the inside. It’s a trick that fascinates scientists, who coax cells into changing shape in laboratory conditions to study how their internal structures move around and reconnect which may hold clues to the cause of certain diseases including cancer. Here, we see a cell taken from a human retina that has been persuaded using a new technique, to change from round to tear-drop shape. The cell, marooned on a repellent surface, has a precision pulse-laser aimed close to it. Intense heat destroys the surface but leaves the cell unharmed and free to spread along the paths etched by the laser beam.

Written by Mick Warwicker

Mick Warwicker

Writer

A freelance communications consultant and writer, Mick specialises in science and education. A science graduate and award-winning print and broadcast journalist, he was Head of Communications at Newcastle University from 2000–2011.

Website

• Timothée Vignaud
• Institute of life sciences research and technologies (iRTSV)
• Reproduced/adapted with permission from Journal of Cell Science
• Published in Journal of Cell Science