Projektnummer

0065474

Zusammenfassung

One of the key steps in evolution was the development of multicellular animals (Metazoa) from unicellular organisms over 600 million years ago. While much research has focused on the molecular pathways required for morphogenesis and intercellular communication, one crucial aspect has largely been ignored: the necessity to cope with increased physical forces that arise in tissues of multicellular organisms and, without adaptation, would result in mechanically induced damage and cell death. Intriguingly, Metazoans have evolved characteristic structures that are present neither in single ...