In zebrafish eggs, most rapidly growing cell inhibits neighbors through mechanical signals

(Institute of Science and Technology Austria) In animal embryonic development a group of cells starts out all being the same. But then one cell puts the brake on its neighbors, sending inhibitory signals that stop their differentiation. The 'winning' cell, in the end, is different from its neighbors. Scientists at IST Austria now describe a new mechanism for lateral inhibition in a publication in today's edition of Cell: In zebrafish ovarian follicles, granulosa cells compete mechanically!
Source: EurekAlert! - Biology - Category: Biology Source Type: news