Active matter physics in nematode C. elegans

Abstract

Active matter refers to systems composed of elements that are self-propelled by the dissipation of energy, in which dynamical patterns emerge as is in flocks of birds and schools of fish. Some researchers on the active matter physics seek to identify unified descriptions of such collective motions through interdisciplinary approaches by biologists and physicists. Owing to such collaborations, experimental studies pertaining to active matter physics are developing recently, which allows us to verify the proposed mathematical models. Here, we review experimental systems of active matter physics, focusing on collective behaviors of nematode C. elegans．