Topological defects reveal signatures of odd elasticity in a living chiral crystal

Materials with nonreciprocal microscopic interactions can exhibit unusual properties such as odd elasticity. Recently, we have discovered a naturally occurring chiral crystal of starfish embryos which exhibits signatures of odd elasticity. Here, we investigate the mechanics and dynamics of topological defects in these living chiral crystals. We analyze the strain field around a dislocation, the motion of isolated dislocations in relation to their Burgers vector as well as pair dislocation interactions. Our results are in agreement with recently developed theories of odd elasticity and further reveal the odd elastic nature of the living chiral crystal