At any given moment, millions of cells are on the move in
the human body, typically on their way to aid in immune response, make repairs,
or provide some other benefit to the structures around them. When the migration
process goes wrong, however, the results can include tumor formation and
metastatic cancer. Little has been known about how cell migration actually
works, but now, with the help of some tiny worms, researchers at the California
Institute of Technology (Caltech) have gained new insight into this highly
complex task.