Mechanics Guide Tissue Shape and Patterns

Understanding how cells respond to mechanical cues from their local surroundings is critical to further understanding tissue development and breast cancer. Here, beautiful patterns emerge when clusters of breast epithelial cells respond to a soft, fluid-like environment.

Human breast epithelial cells were cultured in hydrogels with varying mechanical properties for one week before being fixed and labeled with a cell membrane dye (green) and nuclear stain (pink). A Leica confocal microscope was used to image the cells.