CMSA Active Matter: Interacting Active Matter

SEMINARS, CMSA EVENTS

Speaker:

Amin Doostmohammadi - Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen

I will focus on the interaction between different active matter systems. In particular, I will describe recent experimental and modeling results that reveal how interaction forces between adhesive cells generate activity in the cell layer and lead to a potentially new mode of phase segregation. I will then discuss mechanics of how cells use finger-like protrusions, known as filopodia, to interact with their surrounding medium. First, I will present experimental and theoretical results of active mirror-symmetry breaking in subcellular skeleton of filopodia that allows for rotation, helicity, and buckling of these cellular fingers in a wide variety of cells ranging from epithelial, mesenchymal, cancerous and stem cells. I will then describe in-vivo experiments together with theoretical modeling showing how during embryo development specialized active cells probe and modify other cell layers and integrate within an active epithelium.

This seminar will be held in person and on Zoom. For more information on how to join, please see: https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/event_category/active-matter-seminar/