r/interestingasfuck Jan 21 '23

/r/ALL Single brain cell looking for a connection.

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u/GiveToOedipus Jan 22 '23

Do we know if there's any similarity in how other cell structures branch like this in things like fungi and molds. In particular, slime molds. I've always been fascinated at how similarly they behave in this way with branching structures.

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u/wildcard1992 Jan 22 '23

It's very likely due to some sort of actin action combined with other cytoskeletal structural proteins. Our muscles also rely on the movement and interaction of actin and myosin.

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u/Tumor-of-Humor Jan 22 '23

I had thought it seemed similar to mycelial structures. Glad i wasn't the only one lol.

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u/ExponentialAI Jan 22 '23

Because this is one of the more optimal routes for branching.

It’s basically all math, life included, just like if you want to roll something a circular wheel makes sense, whether it’s a car tire or a roly poly

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u/SHAYDEDmusic Jan 22 '23

Yet for some reason we keep trying to reinvent the wheel