Title: Fluid flows shaping organism morphology,
Abstract: A dynamic self-organized morphology is the hallmark of network-shaped
organisms like slime moulds and fungi. Organisms continuously re-organize their
flexible, undifferentiated body plans to forage for food. Among these organisms
the slime mould Physarum polycephalum has emerged as a model to investigate how
organism can self-organize their extensive networks and act as a coordinated
whole. Cytoplasmic fluid flows flowing through the tubular networks have been
identified as key driver of morphological dynamics. Inquiring how fluid flows
can shape living matter from small to large scales opens up many new avenues
for research.