Newman S A, Comper W D
Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, New York Medical College, Valhalla 10595.
Development. 1990 Sep;110(1):1-18. doi: 10.1242/dev.110.1.1.
The role of 'generic' physical mechanisms in morphogenesis and pattern formation of tissues is considered. Generic mechanisms are defined as those physical processes that are broadly applicable to living and non-living systems, such as adhesion, surface tension and gravitational effects, viscosity, phase separation, convection and reaction-diffusion coupling. They are contrasted with 'genetic' mechanisms, a term reserved for highly evolved, machine-like, biomolecular processes. Generic mechanisms acting upon living tissues are capable of giving rise to morphogenetic rearrangements of cytoplasmic, tissue and extracellular matrix components, sometimes leading to 'microfingers', and to chemical waves or stripes. We suggest that many morphogenetic and patterning effects are the inevitable outcome of recognized physical properties of tissues, and that generic physical mechanisms that act on these properties are complementary to, and interdependent with genetic mechanisms. We also suggest that major morphological reorganizations in phylogenetic lineages may arise by the action of generic physical mechanisms on developing embryos. Subsequent evolution of genetic mechanisms could stabilize and refine developmental outcomes originally guided by generic effects.
本文探讨了“通用”物理机制在组织形态发生和模式形成中的作用。通用机制被定义为那些广泛适用于生物和非生物系统的物理过程，如粘附、表面张力和引力效应、粘度、相分离、对流以及反应扩散耦合。它们与“遗传”机制形成对比，“遗传”机制是一个专门用于高度进化的、类似机器的生物分子过程的术语。作用于生物组织的通用机制能够引起细胞质、组织和细胞外基质成分的形态发生重排，有时会导致“微指”以及化学波或条纹的出现。我们认为，许多形态发生和模式形成效应是组织公认物理特性的必然结果，并且作用于这些特性的通用物理机制与遗传机制相互补充、相互依存。我们还认为，系统发育谱系中的主要形态重组可能是通用物理机制作用于发育中胚胎的结果。遗传机制的后续进化可以稳定并完善最初由通用效应引导的发育结果。
