On Growth Form and Computers Kumar and Bentley Chap 12 Synthetic Biology Fleischer 2003英文电子书.pdf

How synthetic biology provides insights into contact-mediated latera l inhibition and othe r mechanisms KURT W FLEISCHER 12.1 Introductio n This chapter presents two examples of using simulation as a tool for exploring complicated biological systems - the synthetic biology approach . The first example shows how the approach helps reach insights into the behaviour of a contact-mediated lateral inhibition system and compares the results to a subsequent mathematical analysis of the same system by Collier et al. (1996). The second example shows how a short series of simulated experiments in a rich simulation framework provides insight about how motility, cell shape and rigidity affect differ- ential adhesion . Updates from the original 1995 work This is a revised version of Chapter 6 of my thesis (Fleischer, 1995), where I advocated one of the central tenets of the then nascent field of synthetic biology (a.k.a . artificial life): we can gain valuable insights into biological systems by examining them in comprehensive simula- tions . Upon graduation , I decided to pursue other interests (computer animation) . Looking back now with a fresh perspective, I still find significant promise in this approach and believe it will one day be commonplace for biologists to work with these tools alongside their experimental and analytical tools . This updated chapter contains additional material so it can stand alone, as well as some other examples to highlight the range of capabiUties of the multiple-mechanism simulator . How do we