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The study of single cell mechanics offers a valuable tool for understanding cellular milieus. Specific knowledge of chondrocyte Cell biomechanics approaches provide tools for the first step to understanding the phenomenon of mechan-crucial to understanding their in vivo biomechanical phenotype and for the production of cartilaginous tissue ARTICLE IN PRESSotransduction involves characterization of the mechanical environment in and directly around single cells. (Buschmann et al., 1995; Vunjak-Novakovic et al., 1999; Lee et al., 2000; Smith et al., 2000). Conversely, abnormal mechanical forces, either from an acute injurious load or the cumulative effect of smaller, repetitive loads, have been demonstrated to lead to altered chondrocyte behavior, resulting in pathologica