Bioelectricity in Morphogenesis

Annual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology · 2025 · Unclear · Insufficient evidence

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UnclearInsufficient evidencePaper 2537

Study snapshot

PublicationAnnual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology · 2025

Study typereview

Reported directionUnclear

Evidence ratingInsufficient

Abstract

Category: Cellular Biology Tags: bioelectricity, morphogenesis, membrane potential, tissue development, cell signaling, embryogenesis, pathology DOI: 10.1146/annurev-cellbio-101323-032747 URL: annualreviews.org Overview Bioelectricity, present dating to the origin of life, arises whenever a cell is enclosed by a lipid bilayer, resulting in a membrane potential. This phenomenon is integral to both single-cell and collective behaviors, influencing a wide array of biological processes. Bioelectric Activities Beyond the Nervous System - While most research has explored the bioelectrical control of neural tissues, the role of bioelectricity in non-neural contexts is less understood and often scattered throughout the literature. - Nevertheless, strong evidence supports the influence of bioelectric signals in various morphogenetic processes, including embryonic development, tissue repair, and disease states. Cellular Mechanisms & Responses This review provides a comprehensive overview of current knowledge on: - How cells generate and detect bioelectrical signals - The mechanisms by which these electrical stimuli are translated into cellular responses affecting tissue morphogenesis both in normal physiology and in pathology Conclusion The ubiquity and fundamental nature of bioelectric phenomena suggest a universal role for bioelectricity in shaping life, far beyond just neural tissue function. The connections between these electric signals and broad aspects of health, including disease, are increasingly recognized and require further scientific attention, especially considering potential health implications from both natural and artificial sources of electromagnetic fields.

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typereview

Effect directionunclear

PopulationNot supplied

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureNot supplied

Evidence strengthInsufficientConfidence: 62% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

This review summarizes evidence that endogenous bioelectric signals (membrane potentials) influence morphogenetic processes including embryonic development, tissue repair, and disease states, and discusses mechanisms by which cells generate, detect, and transduce bioelectrical stimuli into cellular responses. It notes that potential health implications from natural and artificial electromagnetic field sources require further scientific attention.

Outcomes measured

morphogenesis
embryonic development
tissue repair
disease/pathology states
cell signaling related to membrane potential/bioelectric signals

View raw extracted JSON

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  },
  "population": null,
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  "outcomes": [
    "morphogenesis",
    "embryonic development",
    "tissue repair",
    "disease/pathology states",
    "cell signaling related to membrane potential/bioelectric signals"
  ],
  "main_findings": "This review summarizes evidence that endogenous bioelectric signals (membrane potentials) influence morphogenetic processes including embryonic development, tissue repair, and disease states, and discusses mechanisms by which cells generate, detect, and transduce bioelectrical stimuli into cellular responses. It notes that potential health implications from natural and artificial electromagnetic field sources require further scientific attention.",
  "effect_direction": "unclear",
  "limitations": [],
  "evidence_strength": "insufficient",
  "confidence": 0.62,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "bioelectricity",
    "morphogenesis",
    "membrane potential",
    "tissue development",
    "cell signaling",
    "embryogenesis",
    "pathology",
    "electromagnetic fields"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1146/annurev-cellbio-101323-032747
PubMed: Not supplied

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