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Lines of Asymmetry

Insight into how asymmetry – common in biology – develops

12 March 2023

Lines of Asymmetry

From a distance we look roughly symmetrical, but we’re not completely – our faces might look odd if they were. Many of our organs must develop asymmetrically to take on their correct shape or move into place. But where does this asymmetry come from? These human cells are growing on circular stages under a high-powered microscope. Tiny 'bones' of actin (highlighted in green) in their cytoskeletons develop chirality – that is, they twist in a particular direction. Researchers find a group of proteins which sway these actin patterns. When they block the activity of profilin 1, for example, the direction of the actin swirl changes from anticlockwise (top left) to clockwise (top right). This switch is reversible (bottom left) and doesn't happen when blocking a similar protein, profilin 2 (bottom right). With these roots of asymmetry discovered, researchers may now trace lines of asymmetry throughout our development.

Written by John Ankers

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BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences until Jul 2023, it is now run independently by a dedicated team of scientists and writers. The website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biology, and its influence on medicine. The ever-growing archive of more than 4000 research images documents over a decade of progress. Explore the collection and see what you discover. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.

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