Vascular networks due to dynamically arrested crystalline ordering of   elongated cells
  Recent experimental and theoretical studies suggest that crystallization and glass-like solidification are useful analogies for understanding cell ordering in confluent biological tissues. It remains unexplored how cellular ordering contributes to pattern formation during morphogenesis. With a computational model we show that a system of elongated, cohering biological cells can get dynamically arrested in a network pattern. Our model provides a new explanation for the formation of cellular networks in culture systems that exclude intercellular interaction via chemotaxis or mechanical traction. 
Margriet M. Palm and Roeland M. H. Merks
q-bio.CB cond-mat.soft physics.bio-ph q-bio.TO