BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Talks.cam//talks.cam.ac.uk//
X-WR-CALNAME:Talks.cam
BEGIN:VEVENT
SUMMARY:Topological defects in cells: collective motion and morphogenesis 
 - Francesca Serra (University of Southern Denmark)
DTSTART:20250820T080000Z
DTEND:20250820T084500Z
UID:TALK234733@talks.cam.ac.uk
DESCRIPTION:It is well known that some cell types have a naturally elongat
 ed shape and spontaneously align with their neighbors like nematic liquid 
 crystals. The alignment of cells determines not only their migration patte
 rns and the cell-cell communication\, but also the mechanics of the tissue
 s. There is increasing evidence that topological defects in cell alignment
  affect cell dynamics\, cell organization and even morphogenesis.&nbsp\;\n
 We induce topological defects and distortions in monolayers of 3T3 fibrobl
 asts using micro-patterned ridges with varying height and spacing. This si
 mple tool constitutes a useful platform to characterize various properties
  of the cell monolayers. For example\, we characterize the cell organizati
 on and dynamics varying the cell-substrate adhesion and we show a distinct
  collective motion for strong or weak adhesion. If the adhesion between th
 e cells and the substrate is sufficiently weak\, the cells grown at high d
 ensity spontaneously detach to form a thin free-floating layer. We verify 
 that as cells detach\, the nematic order parameter decreases and the cells
  contract more along the nematic director. We use this concept to program 
 Gaussian curvature in the detached fibroblast layers\, thus demonstrating 
 the possibility to control the final shape of the cell layers through 2-D 
 alignment.&nbsp\;
LOCATION:Seminar Room 1\, Newton Institute
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR