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SUMMARY:Do biological cells care about physics? - Dr Jochen Guck\, Cavendi
 sh Laboratory
DTSTART:20111130T160000Z
DTEND:20111130T170000Z
UID:TALK34649@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Leona Hope-Coles
DESCRIPTION:While most current biological research focuses on molecular\, 
 biochemical aspects of cell and their functioning\, we are interested in t
 heir global physical properties. I will discuss our recent findings that t
 he mechanical properties of cells determine the physical limits of cell fu
 nction\, for example in cell migration. Cell mechanics can therefore be us
 ed to characterize cells\, to monitor physiological changes and to diagnos
 e pathological alterations\, such as cancer progression. Another example f
 or the importance of physics in biology are the optical properties of cell
 s\, specifically in the retina. We have shown that there are cells in the 
 retina that act as optical fibers and that photoreceptor cells even invert
  their usual nuclear chromatin arrangement to turn them into microlenses. 
 Both aspects improve the light transmission through the retina and help to
  mitigate the disadvantage of its inverted structure. These results provid
 e novel insight into the importance of physics for biological function and
  even offer new diagnostic and therapeutic avenues for further exploration
 .
LOCATION:Pippard Lecture Theatre\, Cavendish Laboratory
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