From plants to cells: Tiny Models, Big Discoveries

I am going to present a mechanism of a plant hinge as can be found in physostegia. Some observations yield qualitative insight into its very basic key factors and demonstrate the fine tuned interplay of surface friction and surface rations such as flower weights.

I will explain why traditional cancer models — such as 2D cell cultures and animal models — often fail to predict how drugs perform in patients. I’ll then show how we create miniature 3D tumors and blood vessels on microchips to better mimic human disease. These realistic models help us understand tumor behavior and support the development of more effective, personalized treatments.

I will show how our current understanding of the cell has emerged from a variety of indirect observations—ranging from light microscopy, including cryo-immersion light microscopy, to high-resolution but fragmented electron microscopy. In doing so, I will explain how we combine these puzzle pieces to reconstruct the three-dimensional organization and functional mechanisms of cells, and why the clear textbook images are ultimately beautiful but simplified models.