Work

Cell sensing: from physical limits to active behaviors

Year: 2026

Type: preprint

Abstract: Physics sets the information contained in the signals that cells sense. But cells are active, not passive, sensors. They shape and reshape both the environment and themselves. These active behaviors allow cells to amplify, redistribute, share, and prioritize sensory information, often surpassing or obviating passive physical limits. Here, we review recent results on active sensing. After describing classic and more recent limits to sensory precision, we focus on four ways that cells implement active sensing: coordinating with other cells, reshaping their environment, dynamically updating themselves, and discriminating signals. We conclude with potential future directions.

Source: arXiv (Cornell University)

DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2606.17239

Authors: Mugler, Andrew, Rose, Maria

Institution: University of Pittsburgh

Language: English

Topic: Gene Regulatory Network Analysis

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Science Foundation

Awards: Tracking shallow and dynamic chemoattractant gradients - how yeast cells amplify both internal and external signals to locate mating partners, CAREER: Building a Theory of Collective Cellular Sensing with Applications to Morphogenesis, Chemotaxis, and Metastasis

OpenAlex ID: W7165021651

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