title: On multiscale approaches to three-dimensional modelling of morphogenesis.
abstract: In this paper we present the foundation of a unified, object-oriented, three-dimensional biomodelling environment, which allows us to integrate multiple submodels at scales from subcellular to those of tissues and organs. Our current implementation combines a modified discrete model from statistical mechanics, the Cellular Potts Model, with a continuum reaction-diffusion model and a state automaton with well-defined conditions for cell differentiation transitions to model genetic regulation. This environment allows us to rapidly and compactly create computational models of a class of complex-developmental phenomena. To illustrate model development, we simulate a simplified version of the formation of the skeletal pattern in a growing embryonic vertebrate limb.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics, Department of Physics and Center for the Study of Biocomplexity, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556-5670, USA.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chaturvedi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kazmierczak
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Izaguirre
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Glimm
authors.forename: H G E
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Hentschel
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Glazier
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Alber
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D016923:Cell Death; D002455:Cell Division; D002468:Cell Physiological Phenomena; D008954:Models, Biological; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D010827:Physiology / Q000379:methods