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Researchers from the University of Manchester have challenged the long-held belief that cells round up before dividing. Their study, published in Science, reveals that cell shape before division dictates whether the division is symmetric or asymmetric, impacting daughter cell size and function. Asymmetric division, previously thought limited to stem cells, is common and crucial for tissue development. This discovery could revolutionize our understanding of cell division in diseases like cancer and advance regenerative medicine by manipulating cell shape to control daughter cell function. The research used live-cell imaging in zebrafish embryos and micropatterning of human cells.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.