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Every human being begins as a single cell. Researchers at TU Dresden have now deciphered how this becomes a complete organism. Their discovery: the first cell divisions function through controlled chaos. Thread-like structures called microtubules divide the cell material - although they are actually unstable. The study published in Nature also shows why different animal species use different developmental strategies.
How do cells divide when they are too big for the classic mechanism? Researchers at TU Dresden have discovered a surprising trick of nature in zebrafish embryos. A rhythmic alternation between solid and liquid states inside the cell enables division over several cycles. The discovery changes our understanding of one of the most fundamental processes of life.