Cells 'speed date' to find their neighbors when forming tissues

In developing hearts, cells shuffle around, bumping into each other to find their place, and the stakes are high: pairing with the wrong cell could mean the difference between a beating heart and one that falters. A study demonstrates how heart cells go about this 'matchmaking' process. The researchers model the intricate movements of these cells and predict how genetic variations could disrupt the heart development process in fruit flies.

Cells 'speed date' to find their neighbors when forming tissues
In developing hearts, cells shuffle around, bumping into each other to find their place, and the stakes are high: pairing with the wrong cell could mean the difference between a beating heart and one that falters. A study demonstrates how heart cells go about this 'matchmaking' process. The researchers model the intricate movements of these cells and predict how genetic variations could disrupt the heart development process in fruit flies.