Mechanomics and Physicomics in Gravisensing

Sensing gravity by `non-specialized' cells is still puzzling. We don't know where or by which mechanism such cells sense gravity. These questions in `gravisensing' are not much different from questions in general mechanobiology. Numerous studies have been reported in this field in the last couple of decades. What are the mechanical properties of a cell? Are there differences in mechanical properties between cell types and if so why? How are forces perceived and transduced to a meaningful biological event. Novel techniques such as optical and magnetic tweezers, atomic force microscopy, magnetophoresis and computer modeling make the field of mechano-sensing or perhaps physicomics accessible. A similar approach should also be applied for gravity-related research. This paper addresses the current techniques used in mechanosensing and exemplifies how a cell could sense the relatively weak force of gravity.