Morphomechanics: An Extended View

Abstract

Morphomechanics is based on the idea that living matter can mechanically self-organize into forms without the need for a pre-pattern, as recently supported by the physics of active matter. Here an extended view is proposed that integrates bioelectricity and differentiation waves as the mechanisms by which cells measure mechanical stress and couple morphogenesis and cell differentiation, respectively. Morphomechanics is a largely unexplored approach, which however could deeply transform our way of seeing nature.