The researchers, from the University of California, Berkeley, studied how cells self-organize into tissues. They found that two key properties of cells - their adhesion to each other and their ability to change shape - determine how tissues form.
When cells are strongly adhesive, they tend to form smooth, continuous surfaces. When cells are weakly adhesive, they tend to form clumps or clusters.
Cells that are able to change shape can move and deform more easily, which allows them to form more complex structures. Cells that are unable to change shape are more likely to form simple, regular structures.
The researchers believe that these findings could help scientists to design new ways to grow tissues for transplant and to treat diseases that affect how tissues are formed.
For example, scientists could use these findings to design scaffolds that help cells to self-organize into desired tissue structures. These scaffolds could be used to grow tissues for transplant, such as bone and cartilage.
