World Cell Race 2013
Posted by the Node, on 22 November 2013
Usain Bolt may be the fastest man alive, but which is the fastest cell? Since 2011 that the World Cell Race has been trying to answer this question. The motivation behind the competition is not only to find the fastest cell, but also to understand and discuss cell mobility. Cell movement is very important during development and the normal functioning of the organisms, but it can have very dramatic consequences when it goes astray, such as during metastasis in cancer.
Speed is not everything in this competition. The cells will need not only to be the fastest, but they also need to be ‘smartest’, as they will race through micro-fabricated mazes. Several labs around the world have submitted their best cell lines, and the overall winner will receive a 400 euros prize.
This year’s race is happening today (22nd of November) at 6pm GMT (1pm EST). The Race is taking place in Boston, at the BioMEMS Resource Center, and has been organized in collaboration between groups at Massachusetts General Hospital and Institute Curie in Paris. You can follow all the action on the World Cell Race website.
Let the fastest (and smartest) cell win! And if you enjoy this year’s competition, why not consider sending your fastest cells to participate in next year’s World Cell Race?
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