For successful cell division, chromosomal DNA needs to be packed into compact rod-shaped structures. Defects in this process can lead to cell death or diseases like cancer. A new study has shown how ...

Cells constantly shift and transform, triggering the complex choreography that shapes living organisms. Whether dividing into new cells or sculpting an embryo, these tiny movements rely on chemical ...

A new study reveals that astrocytes, once dismissed as mere support cells, play a central role in fear memory.

The lymphatic system is a network of branching vessels that regulate fluid balance and support the immune system. Its smallest capillaries, comprised of a single endothelial cell layer, must stay ...

Building functional human muscle in the laboratory has long been a goal of regenerative medicine, but one stubborn obstacle remains: real muscle is not just a mass of cells. Its strength and function ...

Certain cells have an unusual shape that is similar to an oak leaf or puzzle piece, and researchers have found that the form of these cells helps them withstand dramatic changes in volume. These cells ...

Dormant lung cancer cells change their shape from spindle shaped (above) to round (below), which helps protect them from the body's immune defenders. Image: Wang, Z., et al., Nature Cancer (CC BY 4.0) ...

Synthetic biology experiments suggest a “MultiFate” model for how genetically identical cells become the many different types found in complex organisms like us. The human body contains more than 200 ...