Simulation frameworks for morphogenetic problems

Abstract

Morphogenetic modelling and simulation help to understand the processes by which the form and shapes of organs (organogenesis) and organisms (embryogenesis) emerge. This requires two mutually coupled entities: the biomolecular signalling network and the tissue. Whereas the modelling of the signalling has been discussed and used in a multitude of works, the realistic modelling of the tissue has only started on a larger scale in the last decade. Here, common tissue modelling techniques are reviewed. Besides the continuum approach, the principles and main applications of the spheroid, vertex, Cellular Potts, Immersed Boundary and Subcellular Element models are discussed in detail. In recent years, many software frameworks, implementing the aforementioned methods, have been developed. The most widely used frameworks and modelling markup languages and standards are presented.