Physics of Living Systems

Physics of Living Systems

eLife reviews research in which approaches from the physical sciences are used to provide insights into the properties of biological systems and processes. Learn more about what we review and sign up for the latest research.
Illustration by Davide Bonazzi

Latest articles

    1. Computational and Systems Biology
    2. Physics of Living Systems

    Out-of-balance Growth Enables Cost-free Synthesis of the Flagellum and Other Proteins in a Single Bacterium

    Mayra Garcia-Alcala, Josiah C Kratz, Philippe Cluzel
    Revised
    Reviewed Preprint v3
    Updated
    • Important
    • Convincing
    1. Structural Biology and Molecular Biophysics
    2. Physics of Living Systems

    Thermodynamic principles of enzymatic regulation in biomolecular condensates from reaction-coupled molecular modeling

    Enrico Lavagna, Francesco Delfino ... Alessandro Barducci
    Not revised
    Reviewed Preprint v1
    • Important
    • Solid
    1. Computational and Systems Biology
    2. Physics of Living Systems

    An engineered multi-step differentiation program in Escherichia coli for self-organized spatial patterning

    Emanuele Boni, Hélène Siboulet ... Yolanda Schaerli
    Revised
    Reviewed Preprint v2
    Updated
    • Valuable
    • Convincing
    1. Physics of Living Systems

    The zoo of the gene networks capable of pattern formation by extracellular signaling

    Kevin Martinez-Anhom, Isaac Salazar-Ciudad
    Revised
    Reviewed Preprint v3
    Updated
    • Valuable
    • Incomplete
    1. Physics of Living Systems

    Anatomy and mechanics of tsetse fly blood feeding

    Stephan Löwe, Laura Hauf ... Markus Engstler
    Revised
    Reviewed Preprint v2
    Updated
    • Fundamental
    • Compelling
    1. Physics of Living Systems

    A unifying model of T-cell signaling protein condensates in reconstitution experiments

    Yannick Azhri Din Omar, Simou Sun ... Arup K Chakraborty
    The formation of biomolecular condensates by multivalent membrane proteins is delayed by slow crosslinking dynamics, with a variety of condensate morphologies emerging under different experimental conditions.
    1. Microbiology and Infectious Disease
    2. Physics of Living Systems

    Emergent particle collection by cyanobacteria through gliding motility and filament buckling

    Rebecca N Poon, Kelsey Cremin ... Orkun S Soyer
    Not revised
    Reviewed Preprint v1
    • Important
    • Convincing
    1. Physics of Living Systems

    Intracellular mechanical fingerprint reveals cell type-specific mechanical differences

    Till M Muenker, Kerstin von Roden ... Timo Betz
    Revised
    Reviewed Preprint v2
    Updated
    • Important
    • Compelling
    1. Physics of Living Systems

    Differential spatial regulation and activation of integrin nanoclusters inside focal adhesions

    Sarah Keary, Amaris Guevara-Garcia ... Maria F Garcia-Parajo
    Revised
    Reviewed Preprint v2
    Updated
    • Important
    • Convincing
    1. Cell Biology
    2. Physics of Living Systems

    Sarcomere dynamic instability and stochastic heterogeneity drive robust cardiomyocyte contraction

    Daniel Haertter, Lara Hauke ... Christoph F Schmidt
    A non-monotonic force–velocity relationship in cardiac sarcomeres causes dynamic instability, leading to stochastic heterogeneity in contracting cardiomyocytes, which can have a protective function.
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Highlights

    1. Physics of Living Systems
    Illustration of tsetse fly mouthparts and extremities. Image credit: Ryan Kissinger (CC BY 4.0)

    The exquisite mechanics of a tsetse bite

    Katelyn Fealy, Álvaro Acosta-Serrano
    1. Physics of Living Systems
    Cell-Matrix Universe. Image credit: Seungkuk Ahn CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

    Building bundles by the numbers

    Christian Vanhille-Campos, Anđela Šarić
    1. Genetics and Genomics
    2. Physics of Living Systems

    Raman Spectroscopy: Probing the proteome

    Wei-Hsiang Lin, Chia-Liang Cheng

Senior editors

  1. Felix Campelo
    Pompeu Fabra University, Spain
  2. Aleksandra Walczak
    Ecole Normale Superieure, France
  3. See more editors