Geometry Has a New Shape: Scutoid | 06 Aug 2018

Recently, scientists discovered a new shape called “Scutoid” after studying the human epithelial cells.

The scutoid looks like a twisted prism which has five sides on one end and six on the other and a triangular surface on one of its longer edges. It is the form that a group of cells in the body takes in order to pack tightly and efficiently into the curves of organs.
The scientists named the shape "scutoid" after a triangle-shaped part of a beetle's thorax called the scutellum.
They used microscopy and computer imaging to identify this shape.
Till now, the epithelial cells were believed to be columnar or bottle-like shaped.

Epithelial Cells

Epithelial cells are the safety shields of the body. They are one of the four kinds of tissue that forms human body. The four basic types of tissues are: epithelial, connective, muscular, and nervous tissue.
They line most surfaces in an animal's body, including the skin, other organs and blood vessels.
They are a barrier between the inside and outside of the body and are often the first place that is attacked by viruses.
Epithelial cells are specialized for absorption, secretion or to act as a barrier. Eg.-
Epithelial cells secrete hormones into blood vessels, absorbs and transports nutrients from the foods and process it for energy.

This will encourage more efficient kind of cell packing, accurately mimicking nature's way to efficiently develop tissues.
It is significant for the understanding of epithelial organs.
This study opens the door to understanding how organs are formed during their development and what might be missing in some diseases in which this process is altered.
Apart from biology, this is will have wide ranging applications in mathematics and other related fields.