Kinneret Keren’s lab
Our lab focuses on mechanics and dynamics of self-organization in biological systems at the cellular and multicellular level. We seek to develop a conceptual understanding of the self-organizational principles that give rise to large-scale spatio-temporal patterns in living cells and multicellular animals.
Research in the lab is currently centered along two main directions:
Hydra Morphogenesis
We are exploring the emergence of patterns and the formation of the body plan during animal development. We utilize the small predatory animal, Hydra, famous for its extraordinary regeneration capabilities, to study the role of mechanical processes and feedback in the development of functional form in multicellular animals.
This work is done in collaboration with Prof. Erez Braun’s lab.
(Click here for more details and publications in this area)
Cell Mechanics
We study fundamental aspects of cell mechanics and movement in natural and engineered systems. We are developing artificial cells in which we reconstitute dynamic cytoskeletal networks and study their behavior in a controlled environment.
(Click here for more details and publications in this area)