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SUMMARY:Chemotaxis: linking cell shape\, behaviour and strategy - Robert E
 ndres\, Imperial College\, London\, UK
DTSTART:20110920T083000Z
DTEND:20110920T085500Z
UID:TALK31858@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Duncan Simpson
DESCRIPTION:Chemotaxis allows cells to sense and migrate towards chemicals
 \, and is fundamental to single-cell organisms\, our immune response\, can
 cer metastasis\, learning and development. Interestingly\, the process is 
 remarkably accurate\, allowing cells to chemotax in extremely shallow conc
 entration gradients\, corresponding to a difference of only a few ligand-b
 ound receptors across cell length. What is the fundamental physical limit 
 of detection for cells\, and how can cells reach this limit? In this talk\
 , I will present recent results on quantitatively describing data of Dicty
 ostelium amoeba in a microfluidic chamber with highly controlled chemical 
 gradients. Specifically\, I will demonstrate that the chemotactic index\, 
 a measure of the accuracy of chemotaxis\, is just a function of the signal
 -to-noise ratio (SNR) of cell sensing\, not the chemical gradient steepnes
 s or the average chemical concentration. Furthermore\, mathematical analys
 is shows that cell shape and behaviour\, although highly variable\, are a 
 function of the SNR. This links cell shape and behaviour with the cell’s
  strategy to reach the physical limit of detection. \n\nhttp://www3.imperi
 al.ac.uk/people/r.endres
LOCATION:MR2\, Centre for Mathematical Sciences\, Wilberforce Road\, Cambr
 idge
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