Cells In the Retina Tile Like Puzzle Pieces

tim writes "Recent work at the Salk Institute in La Jolla, Calif. shows that cells in the retina sample visual space like a multi-layered jigsaw puzzle. High resolution measurements of light response reveal that individual cells have irregular shapes, but together their shapes coordinate to tightly cover visual space. This type of large scale, exquisite coordination could be a general organizing principle of the brain, but no one has seen it previously because technical obstacles typically prevent recording from large cell populations." Here's a link to full paper.

Comments

So do other types of cells

[BSAtHome]

I cannot see the big breakthrough here. For example, the corneal endothelium also fits like a puzzle. The cells are responsible for pumping water out of the cornea. That only works properly when all cells coordinate to cover the entire back-surface. When a cell dies, then other cells will migrate and change shape to fill the gap. Cells do die as cell concentration decreases with age.

Re:So do other types of cells

[aliquis]

Cells do die as cell concentration decreases with age.

And also because I dump them in the hundreds of millions into my toilet after a wanking session.