Physics of Living Systems

Physics of Living Systems

eLife reviews research in which approaches from the physical sciences are used to provide insights into the properties of biological systems and processes. Learn more about what we review and sign up for the latest research.
Illustration by Davide Bonazzi

Latest articles

    1. Physics of Living Systems

    Differential spatial regulation and activation of integrin nanoclusters inside focal adhesions

    Sarah Keary, Amaris Guevara-Garcia ... Maria F Garcia-Parajo
    Revised
    Reviewed Preprint v2
    Updated
    • Important
    • Convincing
    1. Cell Biology
    2. Physics of Living Systems

    Sarcomere dynamic instability and stochastic heterogeneity drive robust cardiomyocyte contraction

    Daniel Haertter, Lara Hauke ... Christoph F Schmidt
    A non-monotonic force–velocity relationship in cardiac sarcomeres causes dynamic instability, leading to stochastic heterogeneity in contracting cardiomyocytes, which can have a protective function.
    1. Neuroscience
    2. Physics of Living Systems

    A multi-muscular, redundant strategy for free-flight roll stability

    B Kemper Ludlow, Serene Dhawan ... Itai Cohen
    Not revised
    Reviewed Preprint v1
    • Valuable
    • Solid
    • Incomplete
    1. Biochemistry and Chemical Biology
    2. Physics of Living Systems

    Microscopic PhotoSelection (MiPS) of single cells in mother machine microfluidic devices

    Jessica James, Idris Kempf ... Harrison Steel
    Not revised
    Reviewed Preprint v1
    • Useful
    • Compelling
    1. Microbiology and Infectious Disease
    2. Physics of Living Systems

    Distinct nanoscale organizations of mucins and trans-sialidases in Trypanosoma cruzi

    Gonzalo Escalante, Raquel Parada-Puig ... Fernando D Stefani
    Not revised
    Reviewed Preprint v1
    • Important
    • Solid
    1. Physics of Living Systems

    Viral commitment to infection depends on host metabolism

    Anastasios Marantos, Kim Sneppen ... Namiko Mitarai
    Energy-limited bacterial cells reduce phage adsorption, particularly for weakly binding viruses, revealing host physiology as a key factor in viral commitment to infection.
    1. Computational and Systems Biology
    2. Physics of Living Systems

    Designing biochemical circuits with tree search

    Pranav S Bhamidipati, Matthew Thomson
    Revised
    Reviewed Preprint v2
    Updated
    • Valuable
    • Convincing
    1. Physics of Living Systems

    A unifying model of T-cell signaling protein condensates in reconstitution experiments

    Yannick Azhri Din Omar, Simou Sun ... Arup K Chakraborty
    1. Computational and Systems Biology
    2. Physics of Living Systems

    Out-of-balance Growth Enables Cost-free Synthesis of the Flagellum and Other Proteins in a Single Bacterium

    Mayra Garcia-Alcala, Josiah C Kratz, Philippe Cluzel
    Revised
    Reviewed Preprint v2
    Updated
    • Important
    • Convincing
    1. Developmental Biology
    2. Physics of Living Systems

    A soft active matter models explains spiral epithelial cell migration on in-vivo corneas

    Kaja Kostanjevec, Rastko Sknepnek ... Silke Henkes
    Revised
    Reviewed Preprint v2
    Updated
    • Useful
    • Solid
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Highlights

    1. Physics of Living Systems
    Illustration of tsetse fly mouthparts and extremities. Image credit: Ryan Kissinger (CC BY 4.0)

    The exquisite mechanics of a tsetse bite

    Katelyn Fealy, Álvaro Acosta-Serrano
    1. Physics of Living Systems
    Cell-Matrix Universe. Image credit: Seungkuk Ahn CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

    Building bundles by the numbers

    Christian Vanhille-Campos, Anđela Šarić
    1. Genetics and Genomics
    2. Physics of Living Systems

    Raman Spectroscopy: Probing the proteome

    Wei-Hsiang Lin, Chia-Liang Cheng

Senior editors

  1. Felix Campelo
    Pompeu Fabra University, Spain
  2. Aleksandra Walczak
    Ecole Normale Superieure, France
  3. See more editors