Mechanical cues for totipotency and the preneural state: embryo and cancer expanding the frontiers of developmental physics

Abstract

In this article, I advance the idea that physics plays a central role in cell differentiation and makes fundamental contributions to morphogenesis, revealing the totipotent nature of the zygote. Totipotency is a persistent mechanical memory that preserves the biomechanical records of animal morphogenesis. I examine the mechanical and biophysical pathways underlying cell differentiation in embryonic development and cancer, treating them as closely related biological and mechanical processes. Drawing inspiration from evolutionary history, I also propose a biophysical mechanism for the emergence of the animal nervous system. By linking physical principles to cellular differentiation, this review positions mechanobiology as a pillar of innovation with high-impact clinical implications for diseases such as cancer.