The cytoskeleton gives a cell its main structure and rigidity. It plays a significant role during many (force sensitive) mechanical cues from outside the cell. The anisotropy of the cytoskeleton...Show moreThe cytoskeleton gives a cell its main structure and rigidity. It plays a significant role during many (force sensitive) mechanical cues from outside the cell. The anisotropy of the cytoskeleton has been shown to control the geometry and forces of adherent cells. Bases on the the shape of curved cell edge segments of single cells, the size of internal stresses and traction forces can be calculated. However, such methods have not yet been applied to clusters of cells. Here we introduce two methods to describe the mechanical equilibrium of cell doublets. Either in a discontinuous way, where both cells are treated separately, or continuous, where we do not differentiate between the cells and treat it as a single cell.Show less
