To understand the generation and transmission of forces in dividing cells and the mechanics of the underlying network of microtubules, we studied the behavior of dividing cells encapsulated in hydrogels of increasing stiffness.  Cells harvested from sea urchins are encapsulated in alginate hydrogels of varying alginate and calcium concentrations.  Images of these systems are then processed and the resulting radii of these cells and the distances between daughter cells are calculated.  We hypothesize that divided cells in hydrogels of very high stiffness will have smaller resulting distances separating them and the cells themselves will have smaller radii, and therefore will have experienced smaller strains as a result of division than cells encapsulated in hydrogels of a lower stiffness, which are expected to experience larger strains.  Using an algorithm based off of the Hough Transform, we fitted the cells with circles and calculated their centers, radii, and the distances between daughter cells.  This information is used to find a correlation between the stiffness of the encapsulating hydrogels and the ability of the encapsulated cells to divide.  Information about the effects of a cell’s environment on cell division could potentially reveal novel approaches to cancer treatment.