Viscoelastic Networks: Forming Cells and Tissues

Spatiotemporal changes in viscoelasticity are a key component of the morphogenesis living systems. Experimental and theoretical findings suggest that cellular- tissue-scale can be understood as collective property emerging from macromolecular cellular interactions, respectively. Linking structural or material properties cells tissues, such phase transitions, to microscopic interactions their constituents, is still challenge both at experimental level. In this review, we summarize work on viscoelastic nature cytoskeletal, extracellular networks. We then conceptualize network theory problem discuss its applications several biological contexts. propose statistical mechanics networks used future powerful framework uncover quantitatively biomechanical basis across scales.