#1291Physics & AstronomyFront Page7 January 2026
A Mechanical Ratchet: Rethinking the Cytokinesis Mechanism in Vertebrates
New research reveals that early vertebrate embryos rely on a dynamic 'mechanical ratchet' system to divide, rather than the standard contractile ring. By alternating the stiffness of the cytoplasm, cells can anchor and advance the division machinery despite the physical challenges of a yolk-heavy environment.
By Kickuth, Uršič, Staddon, Brugués
