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

    The zoo of the gene networks capable of pattern formation by extracellular signaling

    Kevin Martinez Anhom, Isaac Salazar-Ciudad
    A classification of gene network topologies leading to pattern formation via extracellular signaling in embryo development.
    1. Cell Biology
    2. Physics of Living Systems

    Collective directional memory controls the range of epithelial cell migration

    Helena Canever, Hugo Lachuer ... Nicolas Borghi
    Revised
    Reviewed Preprint v2
    Updated
    • Valuable
    • Solid
    1. Chromosomes and Gene Expression
    2. Physics of Living Systems

    Preferential formation of NUP98::KDM5A condensates at specific H3K4me3-rich loci drives leukemogenic gene expression

    Augusto Berrocal, Jonathan E Sandoval ... Bo Huang
    Revised
    Reviewed Preprint v2
    Updated
    • Important
    • Convincing
    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 Patricia Garcia Alcala, Josiah C Kratz, Philippe Cluzel
    Surprisingly, monitoring single bacteria expressing constitutive or flagellar genes reveals faster growth, a benefit driven by inherited, cost-free growth factors, whereas bulk measurements show an expected net fitness cost.
    1. Physics of Living Systems

    Salmonids elicit an acute behavioral response to heterothermal environments

    Robert Naudascher, Stefano Brizzolara ... Roman Stocker
    Juvenile brown trout rapidly respond to fine-scale temperature disturbances, demonstrating behavioral mechanisms that support resilience to sudden thermal disruptions in freshwater ecosystems.
    1. Physics of Living Systems

    Mechanics and fate stochasticity shape stem cell distribution in tissues

    Johannes C Krämer, Edouard Hannezo, Jens Elgeti
    Not revised
    Reviewed Preprint v1
    • Useful
    • Solid
    1. Physics of Living Systems

    Anatomy and mechanics of tsetse fly blood feeding

    Stephan Löwe, Laura Hauf ... Markus Engstler
    A saw-like proboscis, forceful pulling movements, and precise targeting of softer skin sites allow tsetse flies to draw blood from remarkably diverse vertebrate hosts.
    1. Structural Biology and Molecular Biophysics
    2. Physics of Living Systems

    Thermodynamic principles of enzymatic regulation in biomolecular condensates from reaction-coupled molecular modeling

    Enrico Lavagna, Francesco Delfino ... Alessandro Barducci
    Not revised
    Reviewed Preprint v1
    • Important
    • Solid
    1. Computational and Systems Biology
    2. Physics of Living Systems

    An engineered multi-step differentiation program in Escherichia coli for self-organized spatial patterning

    Emanuele Boni, Hélène Siboulet ... Yolanda Schaerli
    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
    The formation of biomolecular condensates by multivalent membrane proteins is delayed by slow crosslinking dynamics, with a variety of condensate morphologies emerging under different experimental conditions.
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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
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