An analysis of the shapes of a cell during division with particular reference to the role of surface tension

Abstract

An expression is given for the contribution to the relative elongation by any volume element or its surface. The case in which only a constant surface tension is acting is considered in greater detail. From measurements of an egg in several stages, the empirical variation of an expression proportional to the above function is obtained. In the constricting region and near the ends of the cells, the change of shape is opposite to that which would be due to a constant surface tension alone. The effect of streaming which may arise from a variable surface tension is considered. The effect of forces which arise in this manner may be sufficient to explain the discrepancy in the constricting region if the streaming is considered due largely to such a variable surface tension.