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Sophistications of cell sorting

The self-sorting of early embryonic cells is mediated not only by pure differential adhesion but also involves other processes. Direct force measurements reveal the role of cell-cortical tension, whereas epithelial-wrapping dominates the sorting of enclosed mesenchymal cells.

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Figure 1: Classical assays for cell sorting and apparent surface tension.
Figure 2: Direct measurement of cell adhesion and cell deformability with an atomic force microscope.

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Green, J. Sophistications of cell sorting. Nat Cell Biol 10, 375–377 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncb0408-375

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