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Cells' Responses to Gravity

Posted by michael on from the squeeze-play dept.

scubacuda writes "Science@NASA has an article on how cells respond to gravity in unexpected ways. Cell skeletons ("cytoskeletons") consist of protein molecules arranged into chains very much like Kenneth Snelson's Needletower , a tensegrity (tension gravity) sculpture built in 1969. This tension is what makes red blood cells flat and human endothelial cell filaments' geodesic-domes triangular-shaped."

1 of 6 comments (clear)

  1. did you read the article ? by J+x · · Score: 2, Informative

    from the article:

    "The word 'tensegrity' is an invention: a contraction of 'tensional integrity.'

    ..NOT tension gravity as the story suggests.