In this video, several cell types can be seen in motion. Movement is common among cells, with different cells moving for different reasons. Researchers have been studying cell migration for a long time, and now they have revealed new information.
Scientists at Johns Hopkins have discovered that amoeba have a mechanism that enables rapid changes in the movement of cells. This mechanism can make the single-celled organisms quickly react to the internal signaling events that influence cell migration. In the research, the investigators learned that the movement of amoeba can be manipulated.
The researchers have suggested that cell migration may not be as hard-wired as thought. It may then be possible to control cell migration, a critical part of deadly disorders like metastatic cancer.