cell biology is an inherently multidisciplinary science , requiring approaches from genetics , chemistry , physics , applied mathematics , and engineering .
while biochemical and genetic approaches have been successfully integrated into the field , other disciplines require more effort .
physical scientists that join the field of cell biology retain the training and language from their physical discipline , which has been specialized for specific purposes .
applied mathematicians , condensed matter physicists , and mechanical engineers all have unique perspectives on how to model complex biological phenomena ( fig .
this has led to the development of parallel theoretical and experimental approaches for modeling cell biological phenomena that are difficult to directly compare or rigorously test .
a challenge for the future is to develop a community of researchers that will integrate these diverse physical approaches to identify strengths , resolve differences , and determine the best approaches for modeling cell behaviors .
a flow chart showing examples of how various disciplines from the physical sciences ( bottom ) have optimized a variety of theoretical / modeling tools ( left ) as well as experimental techniques ( right ) that have been applied to cell biological problems .
a current challenge is to systematically have them benchmarked against each other and identify their weaknesses and strengths before using them to provide a new framework optimized for mesoscale cell biology .
one of the simplest solutions to implement is to develop a consistent and precise language to describe measurements or ideas . in my field , which centers on how mechanical forces are sensed and generated by cells , terms like  mechanosensing  or even 
stiffness sensing  are used without precision , resulting in confusion of what is known versus just  thought to be true .
 precision of language is essential for standardizing experimental protocols and measurements and in being able to clearly communicate conclusions and ideas .
one historical role of physical scientists in biology has been the introduction of new experimental and analytical tools .
some of these tools , such as microscopy and scattering techniques , have been developed extensively .
however , in other cases , the nature of measurements require small apparatuses that can be difficult to replicate or operate ( magnetic tweezers are a notorious example ) , making it difficult for other laboratories to build upon this knowledge . similar issues arise in analysis and methods .
it is extremely important for these methods to be used and validated by different laboratories to confirm results independently and by many individuals so that the language used to describe physical concepts and results can be made more precise .
being able to directly compare two different measurement techniques so that the same parameters can be used is essential for resolving discrepancies . even though the goal is to understand cell physiology , model testing will require physical characterization that may not immediately inform a biological process . to use an analogous example : the work in basic materials science of magnetism that needed to be performed before we could construct and build computer hard drives .
it is my hope that the cell biology community will remain interested in these advances in characterization of biological materials and systems , as they are crucial to uncovering synergies that are not currently apparent .
in the physical sciences , research has evolved so that individuals typically focus on either theory or experimentation . of course , each of these can be further subdivided into analytical theory versus computer modeling , as well as sample preparation versus characterization .
it also has led to a vigorous feedback between theoretical prediction , experimental measurement , and new materials development . to be useful , models need to be falsifiable . there is increasing evidence that many of the models used in biology are over - parameterized and , consequently , difficult ( or impossible ) to falsify .
that is , when parameters are assigned with molecular - level details , the number of parameters quickly becomes large . in these scenarios , changes in the parameter value
have little effect on the model predictions and make it difficult to verify the accuracy of the model ( for more details , see http://www.lassp.cornell.edu/sethna/sloppy/ ) .
identifying order parameters that encompass the physical quantities or metrics ( e.g. , elastic modulus , organelle transport ) that make up many of the molecular details is essential for developing models with fewer control parameters .
such order parameters will provide crucial insight into understanding regulation of the individual macromolecular machinery .
the word mechanism in cell biology typically refers to a molecular mechanism that is explored rigorously by genetic and biochemical testing .
understanding the physical mechanism requires both identification of the parameters controlling a system and then elucidation of the regulation of parameter values .
moreover , understanding how molecular interactions give rise to a single physical parameter is not straightforward , and may require years of work .
it is quite natural to apply models and approaches that we have used to engineer machines , such as the flow of decision making in electrical circuits or mechanic designs .
however , cells are working under different sets of constraints , and a future challenge of understanding cellular machines is that completely different design principles may be used . establishing a culture that encourages dynamic feedback between theory , experimentation , and
a potentially very exciting possibility is that understanding the physical mechanisms controlling biological machines will enable a completely new set of design principles that provide insight into how living cells are able to respond and adapt to highly variable environments .
this will enable understanding of how these states change during disease progression and the capability of engineering biological cells to maintain a healthy phenotype .
 a major goal in cell biology is to bridge the gap in our understanding of how molecular mechanisms contribute to cell and organismal physiology . 
 approaches well established in the physical sciences could be instrumental in achieving this goal 
 . a better integration of the physical sciences with cell biology will therefore be an important step in our quest to decipher how cells work together to construct a living organism . 
Developing a common community
Precision in language
Construction and validation of physical methods
Feedback between modeling and experiments