Chapter seven - Oscillations in collective cell migration

Abstract

The ability of organisms to spontaneously generate order relies on the intricate interplay of mechanical and biochemical signals. If the general consensus is that chemical signaling governs the behavior of cells, an increasing amount of evidence points toward the impact of mechanical factors into differentiation, proliferation, motility, and cancer progression. In this context, several studies recently highlighted the existence of long-range mechanical excitations (i.e., waves) at the supracellular level.