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Fig. 6 | Theoretical Biology and Medical Modelling

Fig. 6

From: The organelle of differentiation in embryos: the cell state splitter

Fig. 6

In a cell state splitter, since the outward force due to the apical mat of microtubules (mt) is approximately independent of cell diameter, and the inward acting microfilament ring (mf) force falls of hyperbolically with cell diameter, there should be a cell diameter at which they are in mechanical balance, i.e., F mt  = −F mf . We assume that the cell state splitter is set up at this equilibrium point. However, this is an unstable equilibrium. At higher diameter F mt  > −F mf and at lower diameter F mt  < −F mf . Thus, if the diameter goes higher than the equilibrium diameter, it will keep getting bigger, flattening the cell. If the diameter goes lower than the equilibrium diameter, it will keep getting smaller, turning the cell into a tall, narrow one. Adapted from Fig. 10 in [9]

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