Cellular hydraulics: physics and physiology

Hydraulics (from the Greek word $\delta \rho \alpha \upsilon \lambda \iota \kappa \varsigma )$ is the study of fluid movements and fluid power. In this brief talk, I will discuss the implications of water movements through soft porous structures for the dynamics of nuclear swelling and the cytoskeleton in animal cells. If time permits, I will conclude with a quantitative description of the growth of pollen tubes treated as hydraulic machines.