Project description
Decoding the mechanics of living systems
Biological systems, such as developing embryos, depend on cell division, which increases the number of cells, and on growth, which enlarges individual cells. Although these processes often work together, they can function separately, influencing tissue mechanics, spatial organisation, and pattern formation in complex ways. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the GrowDiv project investigates how uncoupled division and growth lead to pronounced spatial and temporal organisation. Researchers use particle-based numerical models and experiments on Xenopus laevis cytoplasm to study changes from steady division waves to chaos, from fluid to solid-like states, and from ordered to disordered arrangements. Overall, GrowDiv reveals how small cellular dynamics drive large-scale self-organisation, providing insights into embryogenesis and the mechanical principles of living systems.
Objective
Biological systems such as developing organisms, growing tissues, or expanding bacterial biofilms depend on two key processes—cell division and growth. While division increases cell numbers, growth enlarges individual cells. These active processes shape large-scale properties such as division waves, mechanical state transitions, ordered spatial arrangements, and cell size regulation. Though division and growth are often coupled, they can also operate independently, complicating their influence on tissue mechanics and organization. For example, spatially coordinated division and its role in pattern formation have been underexplored, especially in particle-based models that account for individual cell dynamics. This project, GrowDiv, focuses on understanding how biological systems with uncoupled division and growth achieve robust spatial and temporal organization.
Working closely with experimentalists studying the self-organization of Xenopus laevis embryo cytoplasm, I will use a numerical particle-based model to investigate the impact of growth and division timescales on three major transitions: (i) from steady division waves to chaotic dynamics, (ii) from fluid to solid-like states, and (iii) from ordered spatial arrangements to disordered configurations. In particular, I will simulate how independent growth and division lead to stable organization, comparing theoretical predictions to experimental results on cytoplasmic dynamics and microtubule asters. The project will reveal how large-scale biological self-organization emerges from the intricate interplay between division and growth, providing deeper insights into early embryogenesis and the mechanical properties of living systems.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
01069 Dresden
Germany
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.