BB13: Morphoelastic rods: the growth and mechanics of biological filaments
| Researcher: | Dr Thomas Lessinnes |
| Team Leader(s): | Prof. Alain Goriely |
| Collaborators: | Dr Fatiha Nothias, PMSNC |
Background
Filamentary structures can be observed in nature at all scales, from the microscopic chains of molecules to the macroscopic braided magnetic flux tubes in solar flares. Due to their geometric similarity, and despite their widely different length scales and microscopic structures, filaments of all sizes seem to grow, move and change shape according to universal laws; for instance, when a straight rope is twisted sufficiently, it will begin to coil on itself. The same change of configuration is observed to occur in bacterial fibres, DNA molecules and telephone cables.
Techniques and Challenges
This project aims at developing a theory of growth, dynamics and mechanics of bio-filaments, including branching processes, motivated by a variety of physically and biologically interesting systems. Recently, we have been building a theory of elastic birods. This theory allows us to predict the shape of filaments that are structured as bundles of thinner filaments. Our technique is to apply Kirchhoff's theory to each sub-filament and deduce a rod theory for the macroscopic filament.
Results
We are currently showing how analytical results are in reach and how they can be used to solve a wide range of practical problems.
The Future
In the future, we will apply our results to predict the shape of neurons and plant roots as a function of their intrinsic parameters, such as thickness and age. Understanding the growth, formation and dynamics of these fundamental structures is not only of intrinsic theoretical interest, but it also lies at the heart of a host of important processes in engineering and physics.