TY - JOUR
T1 - Constraints Shape Cell Function and Morphology by Canalizing the Developmental Path along the Waddington's Landscape
AU - Bizzarri, Mariano
AU - Giuliani, Alessandro
AU - Minini, Mirko
AU - Monti, Noemi
AU - Cucina, Alessandra
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 WILEY Periodicals, Inc.
PY - 2020/4/1
Y1 - 2020/4/1
N2 - Studies performed in absence of gravitational constraint show that a living system is unable to choose between two different phenotypes, thus leading cells to segregate into different, alternative stable states. This finding demonstrates that the genotype does not determine by itself the phenotype but requires additional, physical constraints to finalize cell differentiation. Constraints belong to two classes: holonomic (independent of the system's dynamical states, as being established by the space-time geometry of the field) and non-holonomic (modified during those biological processes to which they contribute in shaping). This latter kind of “constraints”, in which dynamics works on the constraint to recreate them, have emerged as critical determinants of self-organizing systems, by manifesting a “closure of constraints.” Overall, the constraints act by harnessing the “randomness” represented by the simultaneous presence of equiprobable events restraining the system within one attractor. These results cast doubt on the mainstream scientific concept and call for a better understanding of causation in cell biology.
AB - Studies performed in absence of gravitational constraint show that a living system is unable to choose between two different phenotypes, thus leading cells to segregate into different, alternative stable states. This finding demonstrates that the genotype does not determine by itself the phenotype but requires additional, physical constraints to finalize cell differentiation. Constraints belong to two classes: holonomic (independent of the system's dynamical states, as being established by the space-time geometry of the field) and non-holonomic (modified during those biological processes to which they contribute in shaping). This latter kind of “constraints”, in which dynamics works on the constraint to recreate them, have emerged as critical determinants of self-organizing systems, by manifesting a “closure of constraints.” Overall, the constraints act by harnessing the “randomness” represented by the simultaneous presence of equiprobable events restraining the system within one attractor. These results cast doubt on the mainstream scientific concept and call for a better understanding of causation in cell biology.
KW - cell fate commitment
KW - constraints
KW - self-organizing systems
KW - symmetry breaking
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U2 - 10.1002/bies.201900108
DO - 10.1002/bies.201900108
M3 - Article
C2 - 32105359
AN - SCOPUS:85081231084
VL - 42
JO - BioEssays
JF - BioEssays
SN - 0265-9247
IS - 4
M1 - 1900108
ER -