Biomechanics : Understanding the Mechanics of Living Systems(Current Topics)

Abstract

Biomechanics seeks to understand mechanisms underlying shapes and motions of various living systems based on the continuum mechanics without much relying on molecular and genetic information. While it is a traditional research field with very classical tools, it may currently emerge as a somewhat unique approach among other dominant microscopic studies in modern sciences. Here we give two specific examples of such biomechanical studies. A common keyword is "helix"; The first one is a bacterial motility, the other is a morphology of plant organs.