Topological braiding and virtual particles on the cell membrane

Abstract

<jats:title>Significance</jats:title> <jats:p>Topological defects are robust particle-like structures that essentially determine the mechanics and dynamics of physical and biological matter. Examples range from vortices in quantum superfluids to the cores of spiral wave patterns in the brain. In biological systems, such defects play important roles as organizers of biochemical signaling patterns, cellular forces, and even cell death. Combining direct experimental observations with mathematical modeling and chemical perturbations, we investigated the dynamics of spiral wave defects on the surfaces of starfish egg cells. Our quantitative analysis showed that these defects exhibit complex braiding, pair creation, and annihilation dynamics, in agreement with predictions from a generic continuum theory. More broadly, these results suggest interesting parallels between information transport in living and quantum systems.</jats:p>